232:
40:
299:
plaintiffs (claimants) could file pleadings at
Westminster for the court to issue a writ to summon a jury to Westminster to appoint a time and place for hearing the causes there, stating the county of origin. Such writs used the words and form of
267:. The great charter provided for land disputes to be tried by annual assizes at more convenient places. This work soon expanded, becoming five commissions. In 1293, a statute was enacted which formally defined four assize circuits.
307:
The commission of oyer and terminer, was a general commission to hear and decide cases. The commission of gaol delivery required the justices to try all prisoners not yet tried by judges held in the gaols.
1602:
304:(Latin: "unless before"). The writ called the parties to Westminster (on a longstop date) unless the king's justices had assembled a court in the county to deal with the case beforehand.
1263:
809:
The North-eastern
Circuit was formed in 1876 and contained Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland. By 1960 these seven circuits saw no longer a Home nor a Norfolk Circuit, instead a
1612:
1617:
130:. Other serious cases were dealt with by the quarter sessions (local county courts held four times per year), while the more minor offences were dealt with summarily by
1130:
231:
1597:
1256:
866:
824:
and mess (also called a circuit mess or bar mess). The mess was a society of those jurists practising on the circuit. The bar was its barristers' subset.
382:, transferred the jurisdiction of the commissions of assize (e.g. the possessory assizes that heard actions relating to the dispossession of land) to the
1441:
135:
1374:
367:, serving London's broadened metropolis, and county courts were established widely to hear many civil cases which had taken the writ-action form of
39:
1551:
1431:
1303:
1249:
152:) of the judges, known as "justices of assize", who were judges who travelled across the seven circuits of England and Wales on commissions of "
1546:
842:
282:
in some seasons of the year travelled around the country contributing to five commissions: their civil commissions were those of assize and of
386:, and established district registries of the High Court across the country, leaving a minimal civil jurisdiction to the (travelling) assizes.
1446:
1308:
375:
122:
jurisdiction, though most of their work was on the criminal side. The assizes heard the most serious cases, most notably those subject to
1298:
1394:
1174:
995:
379:
271:
1499:
1451:
953:
1384:
410:
352:
319:
and advises the Duke. Before the creation of the Duchy, the Earls of
Cornwall had control over the assizes. In the 13th century
1607:
1364:
275:
943:
1359:
1272:
1509:
1228:
1126:
827:
320:
1504:
1514:
1494:
1349:
899:
397:, replacing the assizes and quarter sessions. This was extended nationwide in 1972 following the recommendations of a
324:
814:
813:
and a Wales and
Chester Circuit. In 1972, the Midland Circuit and the Oxford Circuit were combined and became the
295:
The second commission heard cases which plaintiffs sought to receive priority. From an Act passed in the reign of
1473:
1389:
1166:
1019:
831:
688:
31:
1203:
427:; from 1328, six circuits which changed in content until an extra was added in 1876. As at 1831 they were:
1466:
1328:
657:
115:
1461:
1313:
810:
641:
383:
1333:
775:
476:
328:
131:
119:
43:
1436:
1318:
1049:
649:
296:
244:
240:
786:, generally attended in that order. The summer assizes were held at the first four aforesaid then
1572:
1519:
1456:
1379:
767:
728:
704:
696:
279:
123:
1567:
1369:
1190:
1177:
1170:
1155:
1067:
1054:
991:
959:
949:
806:
Yorkshire was for a time removed from the
Northern Circuit and placed on the Midland Circuit.
653:
316:
289:
153:
127:
99:
985:
1399:
875:
609:
531:
495:
398:
65:
1489:
1293:
821:
795:
727:, generally attended in that order. The summer assizes were almost the same, substituting
692:
645:
590:
558:
550:
507:
464:
344:
264:
107:
103:
672:
625:
562:
515:
251:
by a grand assize of twelve knights in land disputes, and itinerant justices to set up
171:
27:
Periodic courts held around
England and Wales until replaced by the Crown Court in 1972
948:. Berkeley and Los Angeles, Calif.: University of California Press. pp. 281–283.
860:
1591:
921:
855:
684:
676:
621:
436:
432:
424:
1169:. Jackson's Machinery of Justice. Eighth Edition. Cambridge University Press. 1989.
1010:
Pearse, Richard. Aspects of
Cornwall's Past, Dyllansow Truran, Redruth, 1983, p. 52.
1404:
554:
519:
503:
252:
195:
1241:
1143:
1113:
1096:
1323:
1044:
913:
668:
633:
523:
260:
256:
111:
479:, generally attended in that order. The summer assizes were held at Maidstone,
799:
759:
724:
712:
680:
629:
617:
598:
582:
535:
511:
460:
417:
394:
364:
284:
248:
180:
164:
The courts of assize were the
English equivalent of the still-existing French
146:
17:
323:, feted as 'King of the Romans', moved the assizes to the new administrative
763:
739:
735:
664:
613:
586:
574:
543:
488:
468:
390:
360:
339:
Few substantial changes occurred until the 19th century. From 1832 onwards,
235:
Diagram of common-law courts in
England and Wales before the Judicature Acts
51:
1189:
Allyson Nancy May. The Bar and the Old Bailey, 1750–1850. UNC Press. 2003.
963:
644:, generally attended in that order. The summer assizes were held at York,
378:, which merged judges of equity and common law competing systems into the
755:
751:
720:
716:
708:
594:
456:
355:, were merged into the circuit system. The commissions for (the City of)
348:
312:
315:
were also permanent members of the Prince's
Council, which oversees the
783:
779:
602:
578:
570:
566:
499:
484:
472:
47:
156:", setting up court and summoning juries at the various assize towns.
787:
771:
743:
700:
527:
452:
448:
356:
903:. Fourth Edition. Sweet & Maxwell. London. 1960. pp 54 & 55.
597:, generally attended in that order. The summer assizes were held at
791:
747:
539:
480:
440:
340:
230:
203:
38:
259:
was passed (enacted) in 1215, writs of assize had to be tried at
637:
444:
174:
1245:
845:
holds most of the surviving historical records of the assizes.
189:
183:
1022:, Parochial History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor, vol 1, 1872
859:
288:; their criminal law commissions were those of the peace, of
1082:. Fourth Edition. Sweet & Maxwell. London. 1960. p. 54.
77:
68:
1110:
Review of the criminal courts of England and Wales: Report
870:. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
546:, Coventry and Warwick, generally attended in that order.
83:
834:
for barristers and administrative divisions for judges.
990:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 17.
86:
80:
74:
1560:
1539:
1532:
1482:
1424:
1417:
1342:
1286:
1279:
71:
1603:Former courts and tribunals in England and Wales
1066:"The Northern Circuit" (1915) 138 The Law Times
1154:"Circuit and Bar Messes" (1970) 56 ABA Journal
1229:Criminal trials in the assize courts 1559-1971
188:("session, legal action" – past participle of
1257:
423:From 1293, sets of judges toured across four
8:
1613:1972 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
263:or await trial at the septennial circuit of
1618:Courts and tribunals disestablished in 1972
1035:. Third Edition. Butterworths. 1990. p. 25.
218:
212:
206:
165:
1536:
1421:
1283:
1264:
1250:
1242:
211:("to sit beside, aside, elsewhere") <
1375:Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes
1091:Christopher Hibbert and Edward Hibbert.
1033:An Introduction to English Legal History
1112:. The Stationery Office. 2001. p. 285.
987:A History of English Assizes, 1558–1714
890:
877:A History of English Assizes, 1558–1714
311:Historically, all justices who visited
1227:The National Archives research guide:
389:In 1956, crown courts were set up in
7:
1129:. First Edition. Butterworth. 1908.
1053:. Eighteenth Edition. London. 1831.
376:Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873
270:For centuries, many justices of the
145:refers to the sittings or sessions (
1598:Legal history of the United Kingdom
880:. Cambridge University Press. 1972.
802:, generally attended in that order.
660:, generally attended in that order.
605:, generally attended in that order.
491:, generally attended in that order.
110:and replaced by a single permanent
102:until 1972, when together with the
98:, were periodic courts held around
25:
1500:Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
134:in petty sessions (also known as
1385:Court of Great Sessions in Wales
758:. The Lent assizes were held at
695:. The Lent assizes were held at
636:. The Lent assizes were held at
601:, the middle four aforesaid and
573:. The Lent assizes were held at
455:. The Lent assizes were held at
411:Court of Great Sessions in Wales
64:
292:and of (or for) gaol delivery.
1360:Court for Crown Cases Reserved
1273:Judiciary of England and Wales
1047:. "Circuits of the judges" in
416:For London and Middlesex, see
1:
325:palace complex in Lostwithiel
321:Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall
114:. The assizes exercised both
1505:Chief Baron of the Exchequer
409:For Wales and Cheshire, see
1515:Justice of the Common Pleas
1510:Justice of the King's Bench
1495:Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
1350:Court of Appeal in Chancery
1142:(1966) 76 The Listener 380
1095:. MacMillan. 1988. p. 109.
1080:A First Book of English Law
900:A First Book of English Law
522:. The assizes were held at
380:Supreme Court of Judicature
327:but they later returned to
106:they were abolished by the
1634:
830:with similar functions as
815:Midland and Oxford Circuit
415:
408:
29:
1474:Common Serjeant of London
918:Dictionary.com Unabridged
832:professional associations
170:. The term is derived by
1390:Court of High Commission
1167:Richard Meredith Jackson
1108:Lord Chancellor's Dept.
1020:John MacLean (historian)
32:Assizes (disambiguation)
984:Cockburn, J.S. (1972).
867:Encyclopædia Britannica
828:Circuits continue today
353:Court of Great Sessions
335:19th and 20th centuries
190:
184:
175:
1608:Judiciary of Sri Lanka
1467:Recorder of Manchester
1329:High Court of Chivalry
1125:The Earl of Halsbury.
942:Warren, W. L. (1973).
431:The Home Circuit: the
365:Central Criminal Court
236:
219:
213:
207:
166:
55:
1462:Recorder of Liverpool
1442:Court of Appeal judge
1395:Court of King's Bench
1365:Court of Common Pleas
1208:www.barcouncil.org.uk
1204:"Other organisations"
1093:The History of Oxford
843:The National Archives
811:South-eastern Circuit
734:The Western Circuit:
549:The Norfolk Circuit:
494:The Midland Circuit:
384:High Court of Justice
363:were replaced with a
276:Court of Common Pleas
272:Court of King's Bench
234:
132:justices of the peace
42:
663:The Oxford Circuit:
477:Kingston upon Thames
278:, and barons of the
46:, Northgate Street,
44:Devizes Assize Court
30:For other uses, see
1437:Master of the Rolls
1319:Court of Protection
1127:The Laws of England
241:Assize of Clarendon
136:magistrates' courts
1573:Admiralty Advocate
1520:Justice of Chester
1457:Recorder of London
1432:Lord Chief Justice
1380:Court of Exchequer
1334:Magistrates' Court
467:(alternately with
280:Exchequer of Pleas
237:
194:, "to seat") <
124:capital punishment
56:
1585:
1584:
1581:
1580:
1552:Solicitor General
1528:
1527:
1413:
1412:
1370:Court of Chancery
1078:O Hood Phillips.
897:O Hood Phillips.
820:Each had its own
290:oyer and terminer
154:oyer and terminer
128:life imprisonment
100:England and Wales
16:(Redirected from
1625:
1547:Attorney General
1537:
1447:High Court judge
1422:
1400:Court of Probate
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399:royal commission
351:, served by the
265:justices in eyre
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591:Bury St Edmunds
559:Huntingdonshire
551:Buckinghamshire
508:Nottinghamshire
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274:, those of the
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108:Courts Act 1971
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922:Dictionary.com
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861:"Assize"
858:, ed. (1911).
856:Chisholm, Hugh
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1355:Assize Court
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1211:. Retrieved
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967:. Retrieved
944:
937:
925:. Retrieved
917:
908:
898:
893:
876:
865:
841:
826:
819:
808:
805:
731:for Reading.
555:Bedfordshire
520:Warwickshire
504:Lincolnshire
422:
388:
373:
368:
338:
310:
306:
301:
294:
283:
269:
247:established
238:
223:("to sit").
199:
196:Vulgar Latin
163:
149:
142:
140:
95:
59:
57:
36:
1324:Crown Court
794:, and then
669:Oxfordshire
634:Westmorland
524:Northampton
483:and either
261:Westminster
257:Magna Carta
126:or, later,
112:Crown Court
1592:Categories
1314:High Court
885:References
800:Bridgwater
776:Launceston
768:Dorchester
760:Winchester
725:Gloucester
713:Shrewsbury
681:Shropshire
630:Cumberland
618:Lancashire
599:Buckingham
583:Huntingdon
536:Nottingham
512:Derbyshire
461:Chelmsford
418:Old Bailey
395:Manchester
369:nisi prius
329:Launceston
302:nisi prius
285:nisi prius
181:Old French
147:Old French
1133:. p. 367.
969:13 August
927:13 August
764:Salisbury
740:Wiltshire
736:Hampshire
705:Worcester
665:Berkshire
650:Newcastle
642:Lancaster
614:Yorkshire
587:Cambridge
575:Aylesbury
544:Leicester
489:Guildford
469:Maidstone
465:Rochester
391:Liverpool
361:Middlesex
255:. Before
160:Etymology
141:The word
54:, England
52:Wiltshire
1418:Justices
1131:Volume 2
945:Henry II
914:"assize"
849:See also
756:Somerset
752:Cornwall
729:Abingdon
721:Monmouth
717:Hereford
709:Stafford
654:Carlisle
595:Thetford
457:Hertford
425:circuits
405:Circuits
343:and the
313:Cornwall
243:of 1166
208:assidēre
200:assedēre
120:criminal
1540:Current
1425:Current
1287:Current
1213:20 July
784:Bristol
780:Taunton
697:Reading
658:Appleby
603:Norwich
579:Bedford
571:Norfolk
567:Suffolk
532:Lincoln
500:Rutland
485:Croydon
473:Horsham
349:Chester
239:By the
227:History
191:asseoir
150:assises
60:assizes
48:Devizes
1561:Former
1483:Former
1343:Former
1280:Courts
1191:p. 134
1178:p. 458
1173:
1055:p. 712
994:
964:724021
962:
952:
788:Bodmin
772:Exeter
744:Dorset
701:Oxford
646:Durham
528:Oakham
518:, and
453:Surrey
449:Sussex
357:London
220:sedēre
185:assise
176:assise
143:assize
94:), or
796:Wells
792:Truro
748:Devon
540:Derby
481:Lewes
441:Essex
341:Wales
317:Duchy
204:Latin
202:<
179:<
116:civil
1215:2023
1171:ISBN
992:ISBN
971:2011
960:OCLC
950:ISBN
929:2011
782:and
754:and
723:and
691:and
656:and
640:and
638:York
632:and
608:The
593:and
569:and
475:and
451:and
445:Kent
393:and
374:The
359:and
118:and
58:The
1156:239
1068:301
822:bar
798:or
790:or
487:or
471:),
435:of
347:of
138:).
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