Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Court Leet
Definition: A long time ago, there was a special court called the Court Leet. This court was in charge of making sure people were following the rules and behaving well. They would listen to people who had complaints about others breaking the rules and decide what to do about it. The Court Leet met once or twice a year and was led by a judge called the lord's steward. However, over time, other courts started taking over the serious criminal cases, and the Court Leet became less important.
Definition: Court leet was a feudal court responsible for receiving frankpledges and notices of criminal accusations. These courts had both governmental and judicial powers, but their importance declined after the justices in eyre began to take over serious criminal cases. The court met once or twice a year and was presided over by the lord's steward, a lawyer who acted as a judge.
Example: In medieval England, the court leet was responsible for maintaining law and order in the local community. It received reports of crimes and punished offenders. For example, if someone was caught stealing, they would be brought before the court leet and punished according to the law.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the court leet was responsible for maintaining law and order in the local community. It received reports of crimes and punished offenders. The court leet was an important institution in medieval England, and it played a crucial role in maintaining social order.