Definition

1. Noun:
   • A historical type of court in England: The "court of assize" was a periodic court that traveled to different counties to hear both civil and criminal cases. It was a key part of the English legal system for centuries.
   • A court with specific jurisdiction: These courts handled serious criminal trials and significant civil disputes at the county level, operating under commissions from the monarch.

Usage

• The term is used historically to refer to the English judicial system before a major reform.
• It describes a court that was not permanently located in one place but convened periodically in various county towns.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The judge traveled from London to preside over the court of assize in York.
  • Before 1971, serious crimes in England were often tried at a court of assize.

Advanced Usage

• "to hold an assize": This phrase refers to the act of convening or conducting a session of this court.
  • The justices will hold an assize next month to hear the pending cases.

Variants and Related Words

• Assize (noun): This is the root term. It can refer to the court session itself, the writ summoning the court, or a statute or ordinance enacted by such a court.
  • The assize was known for its solemn procedures.
• Assizes (noun, plural): The common form used to refer to these courts collectively or their sessions.
  • The summer assizes were often busy with cases.

Synonyms

• Circuit court: A court that holds sessions at different intervals in various locations within a judicial district. (This is a close functional synonym, though "circuit court" is a more general modern term.)
• Nisi prius court: A historical term for a trial court where issues of fact were examined before a jury, often associated with assizes.

Notes on Meaning

• The "court of assize" was specifically replaced in England and Wales by the Crown Court in 1971 under the Courts Act. Therefore, the term is primarily used in a historical or legal history context.
• It should not be confused with modern permanent county or district courts. Its defining feature was its periodic, itinerant nature.

Noun

1. the county courts of England (replaced in 1971 by Crown courts)