From the about section of the website of the Maritime Law Association of the United States:
The designation
"Proctor in Admiralty" is of ancient origin and applied to lawyers
entitled to handle maritime litigation. The word "Proctor" was derived
from the Roman word "Procurator", which was translated into English as
"Proctor" when the Admiralty Courts were set up in England in the 13th
century with jurisdiction over disputes within the Royal Navy as well
as purely commercial maritime matters. The designation was continued in
the American colonies and, until recently, in our federal court system.
