King's Bench

See "Court of King's Bench."

See Courts of England.

In modern times, and up to the passing of the judicature act, 36 & 37 Vict, c. 66, the highest court of common law in England, consisting of a chief justice and four puisne justicesj who were by their office the sovereign conservators of the peace, cognizance of criminal cases on the crown side and of civil cases on the plea side. Anciently its civil jurisdiction waa confined to cases of trespass vi et armis, but by fictious of the Bill of Middlesex and Latitat it usurped jurisdiction of all personal actions. It is now a part of the Supreme Court of Judicature. Kind's Bcucli Divisioii: that branch of the Supi'eme Court of Judicature whicli has the jurisdiction formerly had by the court of King's Bench. King's council: one of the two royal courts of the Norman period consisting of a body of great men attendant on the king, at first called the King's Court. King's counsel: v. Queen's counsel. King's Court: a court or assembly of the Anglo-Norman period in England, corresponding to the Witenagemote of the Anglo-Saxon period which preceded; one of the two royal courts of the Norman period, a court consisting of a body of great men attendant on the king, the original of the privy council; a smaller court created in the twelfth century, the original of the King's Bench. King's silver: money formerly paid in in the Common Pleas pro licentia concordandi in levying a fine.

The supreme court of common law in England, being so called because the king used formerly to sit there “in person, the style of the court being “coram tpso rege.” It was called the “queen's bench” in the reign of a queen, and during the protectorate of Cromwell it was styled the “upper bench.” It consisted of a chief justice and three puisne justices, who were by their office the sovereign conservators of the peace and supreme coroners of the land. It was a remnant of the eula regis, and waa not originally fixed to any certain place, but might follow the king’s person, thongh for some centuries past it usually sat at Westminster. It had a very extended jurisdiction both in criminal and civil causes; the former in what was called the “crown side” or “crown office,” the latter in the “plea side,” of thecourt. Itscivil jurisdiction was gradually enlarged until it embraced all species of personal actions. Since the judicature acts, this court constitutes the “queen’s bench division” of the “high court of justice.” See 3 Bl. Comm. 41-43.

v. Court, 8. King's 22. King's Council: v. Court, 2, 115. King's silver: money the licentitt coneordandi in in their respective counties. of the Common Fleas. Jusof the Forest: appointed; v. Court, 78. Justices of of limited civil and criminal 100, 112. Justice of Oaol Oyer and Terminer: see those Lord Justice; v. Lord.

The name of the supreme court of Jaw in England. It is so called because forstill coram ipso rege, before the king himself. During the reign of a queen, it is called the Queen’s Bench, and during the protectorate of Cromwell, it was called the Upper Bench. It consists of a chief justice, and three other judges who are, by their office, the principal coroners and conservators of the peace. 3 BI. Com. 41.