Mangalore has had a District Court since the year 1862 when Canara District of Madras Presidency with District Court at Honnavar was bifurcated into North Kanara and South Kanara. the former being added on to Bombay Presidency, the latter being retained in Madras Presidency. With a District Court functioning at Mangalore since the year 1862, there has been a Bar at Mangalore ever since. But the history of Mangalore Bar Association dates back to the history of its library known as "Best Law Library" being named after James William Best who was District Judge at Mangalore from 1875 to 1885.