-
Period: 1000 to
Trial by jury
Ten people make up jury. -
Period: 1000 to 1215
Trial by ordeal
Religious society. If jury couldn't decided, God did. Trial by hot iron (women; guilty if wound festering), by hot water (men; guilty if wound festering), cold water (men; guilty if floated) & by blessed bread (priests; guilty if choked). -
Period: 1000 to
Manor courts
Dealt with disputes between lord of manor/locals & local minor crimes (e.g. selling underweight bread/drunkenness). Local jury. Usually set fines as punishment. -
Period: 1000 to 1500
Trial by local jury
Jury of men from village who knew accused & accuser. Decided which version of events was true. If no clear evidence, decided based on knowledge of people concerned. Oath sworn that accused was guilty (compurgation). -
Period: 1066 to 1500
Trial by combat
Introduced by Normans. Settled disputes over large sums of money/land. Fought until one was killed or unable to fight on. Loser hanged as God had judged him to be guilty. -
Period: 1066 to
Church courts
Tried churchmen. Presided over by local bishop. Dealt with moral crimes (e.g. failure to attend church). Tended to be more lenient as never sentenced to death. Sometimes brought Church into conflict with King (e.g. Henry believed criminals got off too lightly & A of C Thomas Becket disagreed). -
Period: 1066 to
Benefit of the clergy
Accused could claim right to be tried in more lenient Church courts. Intended for priests, but anyone loosely connected with church could use it. Had to read Psalm 51 ('neck verse'). Some learnt verse by heart. Abolished in 1820s. -
Period: 1200 to
Lawyers
Represent clients in a court of law or advise clients in other legal matters. -
1215
Trial by ordeal
Ended by Pope Innocent III in 1215 in Fourth Council of the Lateran. Believed it 'tested' God. -
Period: 1250 to
Royal courts
Royal judges (Justices in Eyre) appointed by king. Visited each county 2/3 times a year. Heard most serious cases. Assize judges were Royal judges who travelled around country hearing most serious cases. -
Period: 1500 to
Quarter Sessions
JPs dealt with minor crimes. All JPs in county would meet 4 times a year at Quarter Sessions. Judged more serious cases. Had power to sentence someone to death. -
Period: to
Habeas Corpus
'You have the body'. Habeas Corpus Act passed in 1679. Prevented authorities from locking person up indefinitely without charging them with a crime. Anyone arrested had to appear in court within certain time or be released. Didn't stop governments making up evidence at trials as excuse to lock up critics. -
Period: to
Magistrate's Courts
All cases start in this court. Normally deal with summary offences (e.g. motoring offences). Cases heard by 2/3 magistrates or district judge. No jury. -
Period: to
Crown courts
Deal with serious cases (e.g. murder). Judge & normally jury. -
Period: to
Youth courts
Used for children aged 10-17. Deal with cases such as theft, burglary & drug offences. Cases for serious crimes start here, then passed to Crown Court. Less formal. Work with agencies such as schools.