Terence Rhoderic Hudson Cole, AO RFD QC (born 31 October 1937), is an Australian jurist, known best for presiding over two Australian Government Royal Commissions.
Cole was born in Longreach, Queensland, and was educated at Fort Street High School in Sydney; where he was school Vice Captain. He graduated from the University of Sydney in 1961 with a BA LL.B.
Cole practiced as a solicitor before he was admitted to the bar in 1962 where he represented in commercial and common law matters and before the Land and Environment Court. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1976.
Cole was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1988 in the Common Law Division; and then in the Commercial Division of the Court until 1994. He was promoted as a judge of the Court of Appeal of New South Wales in 1994 and served until 1998. Between 1998 and 2000 Cole became a Court appointed referee, arbitrator and mediator in various commercial disputes.
With an active military service in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve that commenced in 1969, rising to the rank of Commodore, Cole served as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force between 1992 and 1998.