Common Pleas

The name of a court having jurisdiction generally of civil actions. Such pleas or actions are brought by private persons against private persons, or by the government, when the cause of action is of a civil nature. In England, whence we derived this phrase, common pleas are so called to distinguish them from pleas of the crown. The Court of Common Picas in England consisted of one chief and four puisne (associate) Justice*. It is thought by some to have been established by king John for the purpose of diminishing the power of the aula regis, but Is referred by some- writers to a much earlier period.

8 Co. 289; 1 Poll. & Maltl. 177; Termes de la Ley; 3 Bla. Comm. 39.

It exercised an exclusive original jurisdiction In many classes of civil cases.

See 3 Sharsw. Bla. Comm. 38, n.

The right of practising in this court was for a long time confined to two classes of practitioners, limited in number; see Serjeant; but is now thrown open to the bar generally. Its jurisdiction Is merged In the High Court of Justice. See Courts of England. Courts of the same name exist In many states.