Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Henry II's legal reforms
- system in 1154
- problems with access to justice eg
the poor and geographical aspect
- impartiality of justice eg sheriffs
favoured those with power
- overlapping jurisdictions of courts- knowing
where a case should be resolved eg church
court, manorial court, royal court, shire court
- reforms introduced in the Assizes of Clarendon (1166) and Northampton (1176)=
- itinerant judges (in addition to the sheriffs in the shire
courts), hearing cases in the King's courts, visiting each shire
every 2 years
- sheriffs no longer involved in hearing cases- only
choosing jurors and arresting suspects
- juries- local men, role differed between civil and
criminal cases
- land law- 1) Novel Disseisin (when someone had land
taken from them unjustly) 2) Mort d'Ancestor (when
someone had been denied inheritance of land)
- role of feudal courts decreased- decreasing power of
barons, increased role of crown in localities, had to
obtain royal writ and case to be heard by King's
justices
- standardised writs =
improved speed and
efficiency, king did not
need to be present,
returnable writs also,
- Possessary assizes- Assize Atrum (whether piece of
land was free of obligations of service to the Lord)
Darrein Presentment (who had the right to appoint a
priest to the local church)
- The Grand Assize 1179- determined moral
right to possess land beyond issue of
inheritance/possession