The Probate, Divorce and Admiralty DM /don consist of the President and one puisne judge. Probate matters consist of the pro bate of wills, but their interpretations and the administrations of the estates are in the Chancery Division. In admiralty matters it hears appeals from the County Courts.
The Court of Appeal consists of the Mas ter of the Rolls and five Lords Justices of Appeal, with the occasional assistance of the Lord Chancellor, any ex-Lord Chancellor, the Chief Justice of England and the Presi dent of the P., D. & A. Division. It sits in two divisions; the Master of the Rolls pre sides in the first and the senior Lord Justice in the second. It has the jurisdiction for merly exercised by the Lord Chancellor and by the Court of Appeal in Chancery, includ ing bankruptcy, and by the Exchequer Cham ber, and in admiralty and lunacy, etc.
The House of Lords is not a part of the Supreme Court of Judicature. When sitting as the supreme appellate'court, it is usually composed of the Lord Chancellor, the ex Lord Chancellor, if any, and the six Lords of Appeal in Ordinary; peers who have held high judicial office are entitled to sit. At least three judges are required to form a quorum. It may summon the judges to as sist in their deliberations and give their opinion on any point of law. Lay peers have, strictly speaking, a right to vote, but, since 1883, have never exercised that right. It has no original jurisdiction in ordinary civil actions; an appeal lies to it against any judgment or order of the Court of Appeal.
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, as created in 1833, is a court of final appeal from the ecclesiastical courts, the courts of India, the colonies, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is held by the Lord Chancellor, the six Lords of appeal in Or dinary, if Privy Councillors, and such other members of the Privy Council as have held' high judicial office in the United Kingdom or the colonies.
There are other courts with local or spe cial jurisdiction which are superior courts of record but are not part of the Supreme Court of Judicature.
The Chancery Court of the County Pala tine of Lancaster is held by the V. C. of the
Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster at Liverpool and Manchester. Within the county palatine it has the jurisdiction of the Chan cery Division ; it is essential that the par ties to actions should be within the county palatine.
The Chancery Court of the County Pala tine of Durham is held by the Chancellor of the County Palatine at Durham.. Either the parties to a suit must reside in the county palatine or the property be situate there. Its jurisdiction is unlimited in amount and is similar to that of the Chancery Division.
The Court of Railway and Canal Commis sioners is held by a judge of the High Court and two laymen appointed by the crown, on the nomination of the Board of Trade, one of whom must be an expert in railway mat ters. The judge alone decides points of law. It deals with transportation facilities, pref erences, rates, etc. An appeal lies to the Court of Appeal.
The Inferior Courts of Record. The most important are the County Courts (see that title). There are nineteen borough courts, whose jurisdiction is generally limited to causes of action arising in the borough; in most of them the Recorder is the judge. The most prominent of them are: The Mayor's Court, London; the City of London Court; the Liverpool Court of Passage; the Salford Hundred Court ; the Courts of Tolzey and Pie Poudre, Bristol. From the Court of Passage an appeal lids to the Court of Ap peal; from the others to the King's Bench Division.
The University Courts are analogous to the borough courts, ana claim exclusive jurisdic tion over the members of the Universities.
See CHANCELLORS' COURTS OF THE Two UNI VERS/TJES.
The Sheriff's Court is held by the under sheriff with a jury of twelve.
A Coroner's Court is held in every county, every county borough and in borough having a court of quarter sessions.
Inferior Courts Not of Record. The Revis ing Barrister's Court annually revises the lists of parliamentary aoters, of burgesses and county electors. It is held by one bar rister. An appeal lies, in certain cases, on a point of law, to the King's Bench Divisional Court, and from there, but only on special leave, to the Court of Appeal.