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The scrapping of a centuries-old royal title bestowed on senior South Australian lawyers has deeply fractured relations between top legal figures and sparked a new political split.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher last month won his bitter fight to cancel King’s Counsel titles for eminent barristers after staring down a fierce industry backlash.
But in a new development, Adelaide Hills Liberal turncoat Dan Cregan has been accused of going “rogue” and defying cabinet after voting against the government over the plans.
The political split came as sources claimed relations between SA’s legal eagles, Mr Maher and the state’s top judge has plumbed new depths.
The state’s leading lawyers, some sections of the judiciary, the SA Bar Association and the Law Society of SA are vehemently opposed to the KC legislation, which has sparked legal outrage.
Sources say some barristers have since given “forthright” views to Chief Justice Chris Kourakis about the row.
Their...