Westminster Courts

the general designation for the highest courts in medieval Britain (Court of King’s Bench, Court of Common Pleas, and Court of Exchequer).

The term “Westminster Courts” first appeared at the end of the 12th century, when from the single Royal Household a special collegium was set up which tried primarily criminal cases—the so-called Court of King’s Bench. The Court of Common Pleas, which held its sessions permanently at Westminster and tried cases involving disputes over property, was made separate at the beginning of the 13th century and established as the highest court of appeal. The Court of Exchequer tried cases which involved the financial interests of the British Crown. All the Westminster Courts operated on the basis of the so-called common law, and, as a rule, they heard only the most important cases, those which would affect certain interests of the kingdom as a whole. Other cases were tried by county courts, manor (seignorial) courts, ecclesiastical courts, and others.

The strengthening of the royal power was accompanied by an extension of the jurisdiction of the Westminster Courts and at the same time by a contraction of the juridical rights of the feudal aristocracy. Private individuals did not have the right to turn directly to the Westminster Courts; in order to reach these courts, they had to receive permission (a “writ”) from the chancellor. As a result an independent court was fortned in Britain during the 15th century called the Court of Chancery, which tried cases “according to equity” (the so-called law of equity).

In accordance with acts passed in 1873-75 concerning the juridical structure in Great Britain, the Westminster Courts were merged with the Court of Chancery; however, the historically formed division between common law and the law of equity is still a characteristic feature of British law at the present time.