Benchers

Benchers, more properly styled Masters of the Bench, seniors in the Inns of Court, usually but not necessarily King's Counsel, elected by co-optation, and having the entire management of the property of their respective Inns. The benchers have also the power of punishing a barrister guilty of misconduct, by either admonishing or rebuking him, by prohibiting him from dining in the hall or using the library, or even by expelling him from the Bar, called disbarring. They may also refuse admission to a student, or reject his call to the Bar, as was done in two cases in 1888. There is an appeal from them to the judges, R. v. Gray's Inn, (1780) 1 Dougl. 353. See Odgers on Inns of Court and of Chancery.