Whilst Bent had been initially progressive in allowing convict lawyers to appear in the Court of Civil Jurisdiction to assist litigants as agents, he sided with his brother that they should not be allowed to appear in the newly created Supreme Court of Civil Judicature to which his brother had been appointed. This raised Macquarie's ire as it impeded the ability of the new court to function.
Although Bent initially supported allowing convict lawyers to act as agents in the Court of Civil Jurisdiction, he opposed their presence in the newly established Supreme Court of Civil Judicature, where his brother was appointed. This decision angered Macquarie because it hindered the operation of the new court.