In the nineteenth century, the usual procedure for admission to the Bar in Georgia was by examination before the Superior Court of the applicant's home county. It was also possible, however, to be admitted by a special act of the General Assembly. The minimum age of admission by a court was twenty one, but the General Assembly was not bound by that age restraint.
Eugenius A. Nisbet had completed an extensive course of legal study, but was still a year short of his majority. In 1823, he applied to the General Assembly for admission to practice by special act. There was an understandable reluctance in the legislature to make such an exception for a young man who could not even vote or sign a legal contract. Many of the legislators thought that a person of his age, regardless of his mental ability and education, lacked the maturity needed to act as legal counsel. Nonetheless, the Nisbet bill passed. An amendment was even added to the bill making Nisbet not only a lawyer, but sui juris for all purposes, though short of his twenty first year. Presumably, he could then vote. He later, much later, became one of the first three judges of the Georgia Supreme Court.
The General Assembly had not heard the last of the precocious Nisbets. James T. Nisbet, son of Eugenius, also applied for a special act of admission to the Bar, and at an even earlier age. He had already attended Oglethorpe College and Yale University. This time the legislators passed the bill without problem. Young Nisbet took his place that the Bar at the age of seventeen.
He first practiced law in Madison, but very soon came to Macon where he had a distinguished career, justifying the faith of the legislators. In addition to his law practice, James T. Nisbet became editor of the Macon Messenger, a judge, and chairman of the Bibb Board of Education.
James T. Nisbet is sometimes confused with his uncle, James A., also a lawyer and partner of Eugenius, and an early Mayor of Macon. It was quite a family.
_ Frank M. McKenney