Stephen Rice (judge)

Sir Stephen Rice (1637–1715) was Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland and a notable supporter of James II.

Rice was born in County Kerry, Ireland, into an Old English Roman Catholic family with large estates in Munster. He was a younger son of James Rice of Dingle, County Kerry, by Phillis Fanning of Limerick. Before the death of Charles II, Rice had acquired a large practice at the Irish bar, and was known as counsel in revenue matters.

In April 1686 James II appointed him Baron of the Exchequer, by the peremptory dismissal of Sir Standish Hartstonge. Rice was made a privy councillor in May along with Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, Thomas Nugent, Sir Richard Nagle, Justin MacCarthy, and Richard Hamilton. He first sat as a judge at the beginning of June, being dispensed from taking the Oath of Supremacy, and afterwards went to the Leinster circuit.

The Court of Exchequer (Ireland) was the only Irish court from which a writ of error did not lie in England; it was crowded with suitors. Rice supported the resolve of Tyrconnell and his supporters to change the Caroline settlement. He opposed the suggestion of a commission of grace, by which money might be raised and the position of existing landowners might at the same time be respected. In August 1686, Rice said 'a commission would only serve to confirm those estates which ought not to be confirmed.' He declined to say what should be done to those whose titles were doubtful and declared that nothing could be done without a parliament. In November, Rice took steps to prevent the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland), where John Keating presided, from interfering in disputes between revenue officers and merchants. In April 1687 he was made Chief Baron, displacing Henry Hene, and was knighted.

...
Wikipedia