COURT OF EQUITY. A court which ad ministers justice according to the principles of equity.
As to the constitution and jurisdiction of such courts, see COURT OF CHANCERY.
Such courts are not, strictly speaking, courts of record except when made so by statute; Yelv. 226; Evans v. Tatem, 9 S. & R. (Pa.) 252, 11 Am. Dec. 717. Their decrees touch the person only; Post v. Neafie, 3 Cal. (N. Y.) 36; but are conclusive between the parties; Colt v. Tracy, 8 Conn. 268, 20 Am. Dec. 110;Van Riper v. Claxton, 9 N. J. Eq. 302; Hopkins v. Lee, 6 Wheat. (U. S.) 109, 5 L. Ed. 218. See Rice's Heirs v. Lowan, 2 Bibb (Ky.) 149. And as to the personalty, their decrees are equal to a judgment; 2 Madd. 355 ; 2 Salk. 507; 1 Vern. 214; Post v. Neafie, 3 Cal. (N. Y.) 35 ; and have prefer ence according to priority ; 3 P. Wms. 401, n. ; Cas. temp. Talb. 217; 4 Bro. P. C. 287; Thompson v. Brown, 4 Johns. Ch. (N. Y.) 638. See Chase, Bla. Com. 843, n. 3. They are admissible in evidence between the par ties ; Pleasants v. Clements, 2 Leigh (Va.)
474; Goddard v. Long, 5 Smedes & M. (Miss.) 783; Randall v. Parramore, 1 Fla. 409; Whitmore v. Johnson's Heirs, 10 Humphr. (Tenn.) 610; and see Landers v. Beauchamp, 8 B. Monr. (Ky.) 493; Ward law v. Hammond, 9 Rich. (S. C.) 454; when properly authenticated ; Barbour v. Watts, 2 A. K. Marsh. (Ky.) 290; and come within the provisions of the constitution for authen tication of judicial records of the various states for use as evidence in other states; Craig v. Brown, Pet. C. C. 352, Fed.. Cas. No. 3,328.
An action may be brought at law on a de cree of a foreign court of chancery for an ascertained sum; 1 Campb. 253; Burnett v. Wylie, Hempst. 197, Fed. Cas. No. 2172a; but not for an unascertained sum; Post v. Neafie, 3 Cal. (N. Y.) 37, nate; but nil debet or nul tiel record is not to be pleaded to such an action; Evans v. Tatem, 9 S. & R. (Pa.) 252, 11 Am. Dec. 717. See EQUITY; COURT or CHANCERY.