Legal Definitions - commission day

Commission day refers to the traditional opening day of the assizes in English law. The assizes were a system of periodic courts that traveled around England and Wales until 1971, handling serious criminal and some civil cases. On commission day, a formal ceremony took place where the official document, known as the "commission," was publicly read. This commission was the legal instrument that formally granted the presiding judge the authority to hear cases and administer justice in that specific circuit or town. It was a public declaration of the judge's power and the court's legitimacy.

• Example 1: Imagine a newly appointed High Court judge in the 18th century arriving in a county town to preside over the summer assizes. On what would be known as commission day, before any trials could begin, the judge's official commission would be publicly read aloud in court. This act formally established their legal authority to conduct the proceedings and hear cases in that jurisdiction, making their power clear to all present.

• Example 2: In a bustling market town in Victorian England, the local community would gather to witness the formal opening of the assizes. The first order of business on this commission day would be the solemn reading of the royal commission. This public declaration ensured everyone understood that the judge present had been duly authorized by the Crown to dispense justice, setting the stage for the serious legal work that was about to commence.

• Example 3: Historians studying the evolution of the English legal system often note the significance of commission day. It wasn't just a procedural step; it was a symbolic act that underscored the source of judicial power – the Crown – and publicly legitimized the judge's role. This public reading served to inform the local populace of the court's authority and the judge's mandate to uphold the law, reinforcing public trust in the judicial process.