COURTS OF THE COUNTIES PALATINE. In the county palatine of Durham there was a Central Court of Pleas, a body of jus tices who sat by virtue of commissions of as- I size, oyer and terminer and gaol delivery. The judges were often the same persons as those who sat in the royal, courts. The bish op's council was a court of appeal and had original jurisdiction. The bishop had his Chancery. In 1536 an act was passed by which the Independent judicial system was made to depend directly upon the king.
In the county palatine of Lancaster, the courts were a Court of Common Pleas, jus tices of assize, gaol delivery, over and ter miner and of the peace; a Chancery Court presided over by the Vice-Chancellor; and a Court of Duchy Chamber, presided over by the Chancellor of the duchy, which sat at Westminster and heard appeals from the Chancery Court. It has ceased to exist. The Chancellor of the Duchy is no longer a judicial officer. The Act of 1536 (supra)
extended to Lancaster and also to Chester.
In the county palatine of Chester, a jus-1 tice held a Court of Pleas for the Crown and Common Pleas. The Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper, by act in 1536, could ap point justices of the peace and gaol 'delivery for Chester and Wales. The chamberlain of Chester, assisted by the vice-chamberlain, exercised the equitable and common-law ju risdiction of the Chancery and of a Court of Exchequer. The palatinate jurisdiction of Chester and Wales ended in 1830. Six coun ties in Wales were created in 1284 and or ganized on the English model ; other coun ties in Wales were under the Lords March ers.
For the 'existing courts, see COURTS OF ENGLAND; COUNTY PALATINE; 1 Holdsw. Hist. E. L. 47; 1 Steph. Hist. C. L. 138; Coke, 4 Inst. 239; 1 Harg. L. Tr. 378.