Robert Wolseley Nugent (born 3 October 1948) is a South African retired judge who served in the Supreme Court of Appeal from 2002 to 2013.
[1] His notable appellate judgements include Oudekraal Estates v City of Cape Town, co-written with Craig Howie,[8] and Greys Marine Hout Bay v Minister of Public Works, both important judgements in administrative law, as well as Midi Television v Director of Public Prosecutions (Western Cape) on the limits of the sub judice rule.
[9] While serving as a judge of appeal, Nugent was twice shortlisted by the Judicial Service Commission as a candidate for elevation to the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
In 2009, he was one of 24 candidates nominated for four vacancies on the Constitutional Court,[10] but he withdrew his application after the Judicial Service Commission declined to investigate allegations of misconduct against Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
[12] In June 2012, Nugent was one of four candidates (alongside Raymond Zondo, Mandisa Maya, and Ronnie Bosielo) to fill Sandile Ngcobo's seat on the Constitutional Court,[13][14] and, during his interview in Johannesburg, he was subjected to "relentless grilling" over his decision to withdraw from contention in 2009.