The Prince of Wales Island, now called "Penang," was conquered at the beginning of Malaysia's legal history. The conquest was led to success on 11th August 1786 by Captain Francis Light.

Captain Francis Light had to seek legal assistance from the Governor-General in India to govern the island’s populace as the island was developing rapidly into a prominent trading hub .

Against that backdrop, John Dickens was chosen as the first serving Magistrate of Penang in 1801. The Supreme Court was established some time later, in 1807, as a result of the Penang State being granted "The Royal Charter." Sir Edmond Stanley was appointed as the first Recorder in 1808, a newly created office known as a "Recorder" who serves as a judge. As this was taking place, the construction of the first Court building in Malay Peninsula had also begun. 

The first “Supreme Court of Penang” was located at Fort Cornwallis. It was, later, relocated to the official residence of John Dickens, the first appointed Magistrate of Penang, as a building of its own. The building was, then, demolished in 1903. The new Supreme Court was subsequently constructed on a plot of land close to its’ original site which it is currently the existing High Court building in Lebuh Light. The Supreme Court was sitting throughout that same year. The design was inspired by King George's reign in the British Empire in the 18th century.

Over the years, the said building has undergone several phases of renovations and repairs. The upgrades done to the Penang Supreme Court building (presently known as the High Court of Penang) was completed in 2007. It was officiated by the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang, Tun Dato’ Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas on 28th February 2009. 

The 200-year history of the state's judicial system accompanied with more than a century-long history on the High Court building brings nostalgic sense to all practitioners practising in the state. In fact, the Penang High Court building was designated by the UNESCO as a “World Cultu