Precedence Or Precedency - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition precedence-or-precedency

Definition :

Precedence or precedency, the act or state of going before; adjustment of place.

The rules of precedence may be reduced to the following list, in which those marked * are entitled to the rank here allotted them by 31 Hen. 8, c. 10; marked ' by 1 W. & M. c. 1; marked by letters-patent, 9, 10 & 14 Jac. 1, which see in Seld. Tit. of Hon. ii. 5, 46; marked ' by ancient usage and established custom, Camden's Brit., tit. 'Ordines'; Milles's Cat. of Hon. 1610; and Chamberlayne's Prest. St. of Eng., b. 3, c. iii; see 1 Bl. Com. 404.

* The King's children and grandchildren.

* The King's consort.

* The King's uncles.

* The King's nephews.

* Archbishop of Canterbury (a).

* Lord High Chancellor or Keeper, if a baron.

* Archbishop of York.

Prime Minister.

By royal warrant dated December, 1905.

* Lord Treasurer.

* Lord President of the Council. } barons.

* Lord Privy Seal.

(a) The judges of assize, while on circuit, take pre-cedence of every subject.

*Lord Great Chamberlain.

But see Private Stat.

1 Geo. 1, c. 3.

* Lord High Constable.

* Lord Marshal.

* Lord Admiral.

* Lord Steward of the

Household.

* Lord Chamberlain of the

Household.}

above all peers of their own degree.

* Dukes.

* Marquesses.

' Dukes' eldest sons.

* Earls.

' Marquesses' eldest sons.

' Dukes' younger sons.

* Viscounts.

' Earls' eldest sons.

' Marquesses' younger sons.

* Secretary of State, if a bishop.

* The Bishop of London.

* The Bishop of Durham.

* The Bishop of Winchester.

* Bishops.

* Secretary of State, if a baron.

* Barons.

' Speaker of the House of Commons.

' Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal.

' Viscounts' eldest sons.

' Earls' younger sons.

' Barons' eldest sons.

|| Knights of the Garter.

|| Privy Councillors.

|| Chancellor of the Exchequer.

|| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

|| Lord Chief Justice of England.

|| Master of the Rolls.

For the present precedence of the Judges of the Court of Appeal and of the High Court of Justice, see Jud. Act, 1925, s. 16, replacing Jud. Act, 1873, s. 11, and Jud.Act,1875, s. 6.

|| Knights Bannerets, royal.

|| Viscounts' younger sons.

|| Barons' younger sons.

|| Baronets.

|| Knights Bannerets.

' Knights of the Bath.

' Attorney-General.

' Solicitor-General.

' The King's Advocate-General.

' Serjeants-at-law.

' Knights Bachelors.

' County Court Judges.

|| Baronets' eldest sons.

|| Knights' eldest sons.

|| Baronets' younger sons.

|| Knights' younger sons.

' Colonels.

'Doctors, with whom, it is said, rank barristers.

' Esquires.

' Gentlemen.