Westminster - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition westminster

Definition :

Westminster, a city by express creation of Henry VIII. it was dissolved as a see and restored to the bishopric of London by Edward VI., and turned into a collegiate church, subject to a dean, by Queen Elizabeth. The Superior Courts sat here until 1822 in Westminster Hall itself, and after 1822 in courts opening into it-the Court of Chancery only upon the first day of certain sittings, after which it sat at Lincoln's Inn. The same course was observed under the Judicature Act by the Divisions representing the respective courts until the opening of the Royal Courts of Justice in 1883 (see that title)

It has been provided by many Acts of Parliament, e.g., by the repealed County Courts Act, 1850, s. 14, which gave an appeal from a county Court, that certain jurisdiction shall be exercised by the courts 'at Westminster.' All such Acts are, by s. 18 of the (English) Courts of Justice Building Act, 1865, to be construed as if the Royal Courts of Justice had been referred to therein instead of the courts at Westminster.