Legal Term Dictionary

In legislation. A legislative assembly. Parliament is called in the old books a court of the king, nobility, and commons assembled. Finch, Law, b. 4, c. 1, p. 233; Fleta, lib. 2, c. 2. This meaning of the word has been retained in tbe titles of some deliberative bodies, such More...

In legislation. A legislative assembly. Parliament is called in the old books a court of the king, nobility, and commons assembled. Finch, Law, b. 4, c. 1, p. 233; Fleta, lib. 2, c. 2. This meaning of the word has been retained in tbe titles of some deliberative bodies, such as the general court of Massachusetts, (the legislature.) In international law. The person and suite of the sovereign; the place where the sovereign sojourns with his regal retinue, wherever that may be. The English government is spoken of in diplomacy as the court of St. James, because the palace of St James is the official palace. In practice. An organ of the government belonging to the judicial department, whose function is the application of the laws to controversies brought before it and the public administration of justice. White County v. Gwin, 136 Ind. 562, 36 N. E. 237, 22 L. R. A. 402. The presence of a sufficient number of the members of such a body regularly convened in an authorized place at an appointed time, engaged in the full and regular performance of its functions. Brumley v. State, 20 Ark. 77. A court may be more particularly described as an organized body with defined powers, meeting at certain times and places for the hearing and decision of causes and other matters brought before it, and aided in this, its proper business, by its proper officers, vis., attorneys and counsel to present and manage the business, clerks to record and attest its acts and decisions, and ministerial officers to execute its commands, and secure due order in its proceedings. Ex parte Gardner, 22 Nev. 280, 39 Pac. 570. The place where justice is judicially administered. Co. Litt. 58a; 3 Bl. Comm. 23. Railroad Co. v. Harden, 113 Ga. 456, 38 S.* E. 950. The judge, or the body of judges, presiding over a court. The words "court" and "judge," or "judges," are frequently used in our statutes as synonymous. When used with reference to orders made by the court or judges, they are to be so understood. State v. Caywood, 96 Iowa, 367, 65 N. W. 385; Michigan Cent. It Co. v. Northern Ind. R. Co.. 3 Ind. 239. Classification. Courts may be classified and divided according to several methods, the following being the more usual: Courts of record and courts not of record; the former being those whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled, or recorded, for a perpetual memory and testimony, and which have power to fine or imprison for contempt. Error lies to their judgments, and they generally possess a seal. Courts not of record are those of Inferior dignity, which have no power to fine or imprison, and in which the proceedings are not enrolled or recorded. 3 Bl. Comm. 24; 3 Steph. Comm. 383; The Thomas Fletcher (C. C.) 24 Fed. 481; Ex parte Thistleton, 52 Cal. 225; Thomas v. Robinson, 3 Wend. (N. Y.) 268; Erwin v. U. S. (D. C.) 37 Fed. 488, 2 L. R. A. 229. Superior and inferior courts; the former being courts of general original jurisdiction in the first instance, and which exercise a control or supervision over a system of lower courts, either by appeal, error, or certiorari; the latter being courts of small or restricted jurisdiction, and subject to the review or correction of higher courts. Sometimes the former term is used to denote a particular group or system of courts of high powers, and all others are called "inferior courts." To constitute a court a superior court as to any class of actions, within the common-law meaning of that term, its jurisdiction of such actions must be unconditional, so that the only thing requisite to enable the court to take cognizance of them is the acquisition of jurisdiction of the persons of the parties. Simons v. De Bare, 4 Bosw. (N. Y.) 547. An inferior court is a court whose judgments or decrees can be reviewed, on appeal or writ of error, by a higher tribunal, whether that tribunal be the circuit or supreme court Nugent v. State, 18 Ala. 521. Civil and criminal courts; the former being such as are established for the adjudication of controversies between subject and subject, or the ascertainment enforcement and redress of private rights; the latter, such as are charged with the administration of the criminal laws, and the punishment of wrongs to the public. Equity courts and law courts; the former being such as possess the jurisdiction of a chancellor, apply the rules and principles of chancery law, and follow the procedure In equity; the latter, such as have no equitable powers, but administer justice according to the rules and practice- of the common law. As to the division of courts according to their jurisdiction, see JURISDICTION. As to several names or kinds of courts not specifically described in the titles immediately following, see ARCHES COURT, APPELLATE, CIRCUIT COURTS, CONSISTORY COURTS, COUNTY, CUSTOMARY COURT BARON, ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS, FEDERAL COURTS, HIGH COMMISSION COURT, INSTANCE COURT, JUSTICE COURT, JUSTICIARY COURT, MARITIME COURT, MAYOR'S COURT, MOOT "COURT, MUNICIPAL COURT, ORPHANS' COURT, POLICE COURT, PREROGATIVE COURT, PRIZE COURT, PROBATE COURT, SUPERIOR COURTS, SUPREME COURT, and SURROGATE'S COURT. As to court-hand, court-house, court-lands, oourt rolls, see those titles in their alphabetical order infra. —Court above, oourt below. In appellate practice, the "court above" is the one to which a cause is removed for review, whether by appeal, writ of error, or certiorari; while the "court below" is the one from which the case is removed. Going v. Schnell, 6 Ohio Dec. 933; Rev. St. Tex. 1895, art. 1386.—Court in bank. A meeting of all the judges of a court, usually for the purpose of hearing arguments on demurrers, points reserved, motions for new trial, etc., as distinguished from sessions of the same court presided over by a single judge or justice. —De facto oourt. One established, organized, and exercising its judicial functions under authority of a statute apparently valid, though such statute may be in fact unconstitutional and may be afterwards so adjudged; or a court established and acting under the authority of a de facto government. 1 Bl. Judgm. § 173; Burt v. Railroad Co.. 31 Minn. 472, 18 N. W. 285.—Full court. A session of a court which is attended by all the judges or justices composing it.—Spiritual courts. In English law. The ecclesiastical courts, or courts Christian. See 3 Bl. Comm. 61. Less...

In English law. A court which, although not one of record, Is incident to every manor, and cannot be severed therefrom. It was ordained for the maintenance of the services and duties stipulated for by lords of manors, and for the purpose of determining actions of a personal nature, where More...

In English law. A court which, although not one of record, Is incident to every manor, and cannot be severed therefrom. It was ordained for the maintenance of the services and duties stipulated for by lords of manors, and for the purpose of determining actions of a personal nature, where the debt or damage was under forty shillings. Wharton. Customary court-baron is one appertaining entirely to copyholders. 8 Bl. Comm. 33. Freeholders* court-baron is one held before the freeholders who owe suit and service to the manor. It is the court-baron proper. Less...

The ecclesiastical courts in England are often so called, as distinguished from the civil courts. 1 Bl. Comm. 83; 3 Bl. Comm. 64; 8 Steph. Comm. 430.

The ecclesiastical courts in England are often so called, as distinguished from the civil courts. 1 Bl. Comm. 83; 3 Bl. Comm. 64; 8 Steph. Comm. 430. Less...

A court established by St. 11 A 12 Vict, c 78, composed of such of the judges of the superior courts of Westminster as were able to attend, for the consideration of questions of law reserved by any judge in a court of oyer and terminer, gaol delivery, or quarter More...

A court established by St. 11 A 12 Vict, c 78, composed of such of the judges of the superior courts of Westminster as were able to attend, for the consideration of questions of law reserved by any judge in a court of oyer and terminer, gaol delivery, or quarter sessions, before which a prisoner had been found guilty by verdict. Such question is stated in the form of a special case. Mozley & White-ley; 4 Steph. Comm. 442. Less...

This court was established by St. 20 & 21 Vict. c. 85, which transferred to it all jurisdiction then exercisable by any ecclesiastical court In England, in matters matrimonial, and also gave it new powers. The court consisted of the lord chancellor, the three chiefs, and three senior puisne Judges More...

This court was established by St. 20 & 21 Vict. c. 85, which transferred to it all jurisdiction then exercisable by any ecclesiastical court In England, in matters matrimonial, and also gave it new powers. The court consisted of the lord chancellor, the three chiefs, and three senior puisne Judges of the common-law courts, and the judge ordinary, who together constituted, and still constitute, the "full court." The judge ordinary heard almost all matters in the first instance. By the judicature act, 1873, § 3, the Jurisdiction of the court was transferred to the supreme court of judicature. Sweet. Less...

The style of a court having jurisdiction for review, by appeal or writ of error. The name was formerly used in New York and South Carolina.

The style of a court having jurisdiction for review, by appeal or writ of error. The name was formerly used in New York and South Carolina. Less...

In English law. A local court which has Its sittings in London only, which receives the petitions of insolvent debtors, and decides upon the question of granting a discharge.

In English law. A local court which has Its sittings in London only, which receives the petitions of insolvent debtors, and decides upon the question of granting a discharge. Less...

A tribunal empowered to try any officer of government or other person brought to its bar by the process of impeachment. In England, the house of lords constitutes such a court; in the United States, the senate; and in the several states, usually, the upper house of the legislative assembly.

A tribunal empowered to try any officer of government or other person brought to its bar by the process of impeachment. In England, the house of lords constitutes such a court; in the United States, the senate; and in the several states, usually, the upper house of the legislative assembly. Less...

In old English practice. The peculiar hand in which the records of courts were written from the earliest period down to the reign of George II. Its characteristics were great strength, compactness, and undevlating uniformity; and its use undoubtedly gave to the ancient record its acknowledged superiority over the modern, More...

In old English practice. The peculiar hand in which the records of courts were written from the earliest period down to the reign of George II. Its characteristics were great strength, compactness, and undevlating uniformity; and its use undoubtedly gave to the ancient record its acknowledged superiority over the modern, in the important quality of durability. The writing of this hand, with its peculiar abbreviations and contractions, constituted, while it was in use, an art of no little importance, being an iudispensable part of the profession of "clerkship," as it was called. Two sizes of it were employed, a large and a small hand; the former, called "great court-hand," being used for initial words or clauses, the placita of records, eta BurrUL Less...

The building occupied for the public sessions of a court, with its various offices. The term may be used of a place temporarily occupied for the sessions of a court, though not the regular courthouse. Harris v. State, 72 Miss. 960, 18 South. 387, 33 L. R. A. 85; Vigo More...

The building occupied for the public sessions of a court, with its various offices. The term may be used of a place temporarily occupied for the sessions of a court, though not the regular courthouse. Harris v. State, 72 Miss. 960, 18 South. 387, 33 L. R. A. 85; Vigo County Stout, 136 Ind. 53, 35 N. E. 683, 22 L. R. A. 398; Waller v. Arnold, 71 111. 353; Kane McCown, 55 Mo. 198. Less...