Legal Definitions - adsessor

An adsessor was historically a legally trained individual who served as an assistant or adviser to a judge or other judicial officer, particularly prominent in Roman law. Their primary role was to provide expert legal counsel and support to help the judge make informed decisions on complex legal matters. In some historical English legal contexts, the term was also used to refer to an 'assessor' or a 'master in chancery,' who performed similar advisory or investigative functions within the court system.

• Example 1: Roman Law Context

  Imagine a Roman praetor (a magistrate with judicial authority) presiding over a complex inheritance dispute involving multiple heirs and intricate provisions of Roman civil law. The praetor, while holding judicial power, might not be an expert in every nuance of inheritance law. An adsessor, deeply learned in the relevant statutes and precedents, would advise the praetor on the correct legal interpretation and application, ensuring a just and legally sound judgment.

• Example 2: Historical English Chancery Court

  Consider a case in 17th-century England before the Court of Chancery, involving a detailed accounting of a deceased person's estate, including numerous debts, assets, and claims from various parties. A Master in Chancery, sometimes historically referred to as an adsessor, would be appointed by the Lord Chancellor to conduct a thorough investigation, examine financial records, hear testimony, and prepare a comprehensive report. This report would then advise the Chancellor on the factual and legal complexities, enabling the court to make an equitable decision regarding the estate's distribution.