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In medieval Britain, there was a system of courts. These were intended to make trials run efficiently and to ensure all cases could be heard in a reasonable time frame.

Royal courts

• The royal courts were run by a professional, paid judge with the assistance of a jury from the criminal’s area.
• They tried the most serious of crimes.
• After 1293, royal judges travelled to each county two or three times per year to hold trials for the serious crimes in that area.
• They were called the county assizes.

Hundred courts, quarter sessions and borough courts

• The royal courts could not hold all the trials needed - there would have been too many.
• The county sheriff ran additional courts in each hundred - known as hundred courts.
• After 1361, Justices of the Peace (JPs) took over this role.
• They held courts four times per year, known as the quarter sessions.

Justices of the Peace

JPs were local nobles and gentry who carried out the job on an unpaid basis. There were usually three or four in each county. They took over some of the work of the royal courts and dealt with a wide range of cases. However, they did not have the authority to rule on the most serious crimes. Again, there would be a jury made up of local people.

In the towns, borough courts carried out a similar role.

Manor courts

• Most medieval crimes were tried in the manor courts, which were run by the lord in his own village or manor.
• Wealthy villagers sat on the jury. They mainly dealt with petty crimes such as theft and debts, usually committed by the landowner’s villeins.
• They might also deal with petty crimes that affected the whole community, such as fighting.

Church courts

• The Church had its own system of courts to try priests and other members of the clergy.
• The Church could also put on trial anyone accused of offences such as adultery, homosexuality, gambling or failing to attend church.
• There were no juries in the Church courts. Instead, priests passed judgement.

Juries

• Juries always came from the accused’s local area.
• They were expected to use their knowledge of the criminal’s background and character to help them reach a verdict.