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quarter sessions ExamplesWord Origin noun Law.
- an English court of general criminal jurisdiction for crimes less than homicide, held quarterly.
- (in the U.S.) a court with limited criminal jurisdiction, having local administrative powers in some states.
Origin of quarter sessions First recorded in 1570–80 Examples from the Web for quarter sessions Historical Examples of quarter sessions
But the question about the Quarter-Sessions was by no means settled.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 69, No. 423, January 1851
Various
The severity of the magistrates at the quarter-sessions was equally revolting.
W. H. Hudson
A case tried at Newbury quarter-sessions is fresh in the memory of many.
James Grant
Now the landlord could only proceed by ejectment in the quarter-sessions’ court, or in the superior courts.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine – Volume 55, No. 343, May 1844
Various
In that day the third-class amalgamator of distinct things was often on the bench of quarter-sessions.
A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II (of II)
Augustus de Morgan
British Dictionary definitions for quarter sessions quarter sessions noun (functioning as singular or plural)
- (in England and Wales, formerly) a criminal court held four times a year before justices of the peace or a recorder, empowered to try all but the most serious offences and to hear appeals from petty sessions. Replaced in 1972 by crown courtsSee also crown court Compare assizes
- (in Scotland, formerly) a court held by justices of the peace four times a year, empowered to hear appeals from justice of the peace courts and to deal with some licensing matters: abolished in 1975