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The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were periodic courts held in each county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 and county borough
County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control....
 in England and Wales
England and Wales

England and Wales is a legal unit within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom....
 until 1972, when together with the Assize court
Assize Court

The Court of Assize, or Assizes, refers to an obsolete circuit criminal court in most common-law contexts, but is still in use elsewhere, e.g., Assizes of Jerusalem....
s they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971
Courts Act 1971

The Courts Act 1971 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom the purpose of which was to reform and modernise the courts system of England and Wales....
 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court for England and Wales.

The Quarter Sessions derive their name from the fact that they were required by a statute of 1388 to be held at least four times a year.






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The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were periodic courts held in each county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 and county borough
County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control....
 in England and Wales
England and Wales

England and Wales is a legal unit within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom....
 until 1972, when together with the Assize court
Assize Court

The Court of Assize, or Assizes, refers to an obsolete circuit criminal court in most common-law contexts, but is still in use elsewhere, e.g., Assizes of Jerusalem....
s they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971
Courts Act 1971

The Courts Act 1971 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom the purpose of which was to reform and modernise the courts system of England and Wales....
 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court for England and Wales.

The Quarter Sessions derive their name from the fact that they were required by a statute of 1388 to be held at least four times a year. These were later settled as Epiphany, Easter
Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
, Midsummer
Midsummer

Many people say that the fairies dance on midsummer's eve, and those in Ireland may even stay up all night watching for them. They re said to dance after huge feasts, then sing and play music and tell stories....
 and Michaelmas
Michaelmas

Michaelmas, the feast of Michael is a day in the Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September. Because it falls near the equinox, it is associated in the northern hemisphere with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days....
 sessions.

Quarter Sessions were also held in the colony of New South Wales
New South Wales

New South Wales is Australia's oldest and most populous States and territories of Australia, located in the south-east of the country, north of Victoria and south of Queensland....
. They also existed in North American colonies, sometimes known as Courts of General Sessions
Courts of General Sessions

Courts of Quarter Sessions were the courts for the Great Britain colonies in North America and existed until the creation of local court systems in Canada and the United States....
, and were held in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a U.S. state located in the Northeastern United States and Mid-Atlantic States regions of the United States....
 until the constitution of that Commonwealth was rewritten in 1968, replaced by the Court of Common Pleas in each county, and in New York until a simiular reform. In India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
 and Malaysia
Malaysia

Malaysia is a federation that consists of States of Malaysia in Southeast Asia with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government....
, the Quarter Sessions have evolved into permanent Sessions court
Sessions Court

A Sessions Court is a court of law which exists in several Commonwealth of Nations countries....
s.

The Quarter Sessions generally heard crimes which could not be tried summarily by the Justices of the Peace without a jury in petty sessions
Magistrates' Court

A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of Courts of England and Wales in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions....
, which were sent up by the process of indictment
Indictment

In the common law legal system, an indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a criminal offense. In those jurisdictions which retain the concept of a felony, the serious criminal offense would be a felony; those jurisdictions which have abolished the concept of a felony often substitute the concept of an indictable offenc...
 to be heard in Quarter Sessions. The Quarter Sessions in each county was made up of two or more Justices of the Peace, presided over by a Chairman, who sat with a jury
Jury

A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render a rationalism, impartiality verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a sentence or judgment....
. In county borough
County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control....
s which were entitled to have their own Quarter Sessions, there was a single Recorder
Recorder (judge)

In the Courts of England and Wales, a Recorder is a barrister or solicitor of at least 10 years standing who is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor to hold part-time judicial office....
 instead of a bench of justices.

The Quarter Sessions did not have jurisdiction to hear the most serious crimes, most notably those which could be punished by capital punishment
Capital punishment

Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the killing of a person by procedural law for Punishment#Retribution and Punishment#Incapacitation....
 or later life imprisonment
Life imprisonment

Life imprisonment or life incarceration is a sentence of prison for a serious crime, often for most or even all of the criminal's remaining life, but in fact for a period which varies between jurisdictions: many countries have a maximum possible period of time a prisoner may be incarcerated, or require the possibility of parole after...
. These crimes were sent for trial at the periodic Assizes
Assize Court

The Court of Assize, or Assizes, refers to an obsolete circuit criminal court in most common-law contexts, but is still in use elsewhere, e.g., Assizes of Jerusalem....
.

The Quarter Sessions also had some limited civil jurisdiction, and until the Local Government Act 1888
Local Government Act 1888

The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales....
 created elected county council
County council

A County council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries....
s also had an important administrative function in their respective counties. These functions included:

  • Repair of road
    Road

    A road is an identifiable Road number, way or Trail between Location . Roads are typically smoothed, Pavement , or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel; though they need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or Maintenance, repair and operations....
    s and bridge
    Bridge

    A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, Rail tracks, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle....
    s
  • Highway diversions
  • Construction and maintenance of county buildings
  • Administration of the county gaol (the English spelling of jail
    Jail

    Jail, also spelled gaol, is a place for confinement. Other uses:* Jail , program resources sandbox mechanism* Chroot jail, a command on Unix operating systems...
    )
  • Supervision of public and private lunatic asylums
  • Supervision of petty sessions
  • Licensing of public house
    Public house

    A public house, the formal name for a pub in Britain, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic beverage for consumption on or off the premises in countries and regions of United Kingdom influence....
    s
  • Supervision of the Poor Law
    Poor Law

    The Poor Law was the system for the provision of social security in operation in England and Wales from the 16th century until the establishment of the Welfare State in the 20th century....
     (pre-1834)
  • The county militia
  • The police
    Police

    Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive , empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force....
  • Setting county rates


Much of the court's administrative business was delegated to committees of magistrate
Magistrate

A magistrate is a judicial officer; in ancient Rome, the word magistratus denoted one of the highest government officers with judicial and executive powers....
s, who had specific responsibilities. Most of these administrative functions were transferred to county council
County council

A County council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries....
s when they were established in 1888.

In some counties there were multiple Quarter Sessions, quite apart from the urban areas: for example, Yorkshire
Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a Historic counties of England of northern England and the largest in Great Britain. Because of its great size, over time functions were increasingly undertaken by its subdivisions, which have been subject to History of local government in Yorkshire....
 had its North Riding
North Riding of Yorkshire

The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the England counties of England of Yorkshire, alongside the East Riding of Yorkshire and West Riding of Yorkshire Riding ....
, West Riding
West Riding of Yorkshire

The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries....
, and East Riding
East Riding of Yorkshire

The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan district with unitary authority status, and is a ceremonial counties of England of England....
; whilst Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked Counties of England in the England East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the United Kingdom Census 2001....
's Soke of Peterborough
Soke of Peterborough

The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the Peterborough and Anglican Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire....
 was administered separately. These divisions were carried on to the administrative counties that county councils covered.

Changes

The following Quarter Sessions were abolished by the Justices of the Peace Act 1949 on 1 October 1951.

  • Berwick-upon-Tweed
    Berwick-upon-Tweed

    Berwick-upon-Tweed , situated in the county of Northumberland, is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed....
  • Bideford
    Bideford

    Bideford is a small port town on the estuary of the River Torridge in north Devon, South West England England. It is also the main town of the Torridge Districts of England....
  • Bridgnorth
    Bridgnorth

    Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley . It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left....
  • Carmarthen
    Carmarthen

    Carmarthen is the county town of Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy and lays claim to being the oldest town in Wales. In 2001, the combined population of the town's three wards was 13,760....
  • Chichester
    Chichester

    Chichester is a cathedral city status in the United Kingdom in West Sussex, England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Ancient Rome past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings....
  • Faversham
    Faversham

    Faversham is a town in Kent, England, in the district of Swale, roughly halfway between Sittingbourne and Canterbury. The parish of Faversham includes an ancient sea port and market town, some 48 miles east of London, off the London to Dover A2 road , 18 miles east north-east of Maidstone and 9 miles west of Canterbury....
  • Haverfordwest
    Haverfordwest

    Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, in South West Wales Wales. It is also the second largest town in Pembrokeshire, after Milford Haven....
  • Hythe
    Hythe

    There are several places named Hythe:*In England:**Hythe, Kent **Hythe, Hampshire **Hythe, Essex **Hythe End *In Canada:**Hythe, Alberta ...
  • Ludlow
    Ludlow

    Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Wales and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of 350 acres and centred on a small hill....
  • Maldon
    Maldon, Essex

    Maldon is a town on the River Blackwater, Essex in Essex, England, England. It is the seat of the Maldon and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation....
  • Oswestry
    Oswestry

    Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, very close to the Wales border. It is at the junction of the A5 road , A483 road, and A495 road roads....
  • Richmond
    Richmond, North Yorkshire

    Richmond is a market town on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. Situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it is a popular tourist destination, with a total population of 8970....
  • Liberty of Ripon
    Liberty of Ripon

    The Liberty of Ripon or Riponshire was a liberty possessing separate county jurisdiction, although situated within the county of Yorkshire....
  • Rye
    Rye, East Sussex

    The small town of Rye, in East Sussex, England, stands at the confluence of two rivers, although in medieval times, as an important member of the Cinque Ports, it was at the head of an embayment of the English Channel, almost entirely surrounded by the sea....
  • Saffron Walden
    Saffron Walden

    Saffron Walden is a medium-sized market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. It is located 12 miles north of Bishop's Stortford, 15 miles south of Cambridge and approx 35 miles north of London....
  • Sandwich
    Sandwich, Kent

    Sandwich is a historic town in Kent, south-east England. It was one of the Cinque Ports and still has many original medieval buildings. While once a major port, it is now two miles from the sea, its historic centre preserved.....
  • South Molton
    South Molton

    South Molton is a small town in Devon, England. It is part of the North Devon local government district. The town is on the River Mole, Devon....
  • Stamford
    Stamford, Lincolnshire

    Stamford is an ancient town located approximately 100 miles to the north of London, just off the A1, which was the old Great North Road leading to York and Edinburgh....
  • Sudbury
    Sudbury, Suffolk

    Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, Suffolk, 15 miles from Colchester and 60 miles from London....
  • Tenterden
    Tenterden

    Tenterden is a small town in the Ashford District of Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother ....
  • Thetford
    Thetford

    Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland area of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest....
  • Tiverton
  • Warwick
    Warwick

    Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, Warwickshire, 18 km south of Coventry and 4 km west of Leamington Spa , with a population of 25,434 .....
  • Wenlock
    Wenlock

    Wenlock may refer to:* Baron Wenlock, title created three times in the Peerage of England and of the United Kingdom** John Wenlock, 1st Baron Wenlock...


It also saw a separate Quarter Sessions set up for the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is an England island and county, located 3-8 km from the south coast of the mainland, in the English Channel. It is situated south of the county of Hampshire and is separated from mainland Britain by the Solent....
.

See also

  • Courts of England and Wales
    Courts of England and Wales

    Her Majesty's Courts of Justice of England and Wales are the Civil law and Criminal law courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales; they apply the law of England and Wales and are established under Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....