The chief justice of Connacht was the senior of the judges who assisted the Lord President of Connaught in judicial matters.
Despite the chief justice's title, full judicial powers were vested in the Lord President, whose office was established in 1569.
A royal commission from King James I in 1604 vested in the lord president very wide powers to hear civil cases, to impose martial law and to pursue the King's enemies with "fire and sword" (Ralph Rokeby from the beginning had urged the granting of such powers, arguing that it was the only way to bring order and good government to the province).
On the other hand, Geoffrey Osbaldeston's appointment as chief justice in 1606 was generally seen as a demotion on the grounds of his professional incompetence, suggesting that the office was not then considered to be one of great importance.
However, a chief justice who performed his duties well could expect to be promoted to a place on the High Court Bench in due course, and Donnellan, Cusack and Jones were rewarded in this way, as was one Attorney General, William Hilton.