COUNTY COURTS. A number of differ ent local courts existed in England in early times, but their jurisdiction was gradually absorbed by the royal courts of justice to such an extent that in the I8th century prac tically all the judicial work of the country was done by the common law courts, the Lord Chancellor or the Master of the Rolls ; 1 Holdsw. Hint. E. L. 418. See the various titles under COURT. In 1846 courts of limit ed jurisdiction were establikhed for England and Wales. They were inferior courts of record. Various acts in reference to these courts were consolidated in an act passed in 1888 under which England and Wales were divided in 56 districts, in which, as a rule, a County Court is held by one of the 53 County Court • judges once in every month, except September. The judges, who must be barristers of seven years standing, are appointed by the Lord Chancellor (except in the Duchy of Lancaster).
Jurisdiction depends mainly on the place where the defendant resides or the property in dispute is situated, and the nature and amount of the claim. Ordinarily, suit must be brought in the district where defendant resides or carries on business, but there are special exceptions.
The ordinary jurisdiction extends (if the amount in controversy does not exceed £100) to personal actions, ejectment, the trial of title to corporeal 'or incorporeal heredita ments. County Court cannot, except by
consent, try any action in which the title to any toll, fair, market or franchise (includ ing patents) is in question, or for libel, slan der, seduction or breach of promise of mar riage. It has all the powers in equity of the High Court of Justice (up to the jurisdic tional amount of £500) in administration actions by creditors, legatees, devisees, heirs at-law and next of kin, in actions for the ex ecutions of trusts, for the foreclosure of any charge or llen, for the specific performance, reforming or cancelling of agreements for the sale or lease of property,' for dissolution or winding up partnerships.
In common law, but not in equity, the parties may agree that a particular court may try an action for a claim of any amount. In the large provincial towns it is a court of bankruptcy with all the powers therein of the High Court. Several of the County Courts have jurisdiction in admiralty. Nu merous acts have extended their jurisdiction in special instances.
In American Law. Courts in many of the states of the United States and in Canada, of widely varying powers.