Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Lord Ordinary is a judge in Scotland who hears cases alone in the Outer House of the Court of Session. The Court of Session is the highest civil court in Scotland, similar to the High Court of Justice in England. The Outer House has one judge who hears cases for the first time, and the Inner House has three-judge panels that hear appeals. The Court of Session also has several Lords Ordinary who act as trial judges. In some states, Lord Ordinary may also refer to a court that has jurisdiction over criminal cases.
Definition: In Scots law, a judge of the Court of Session who sits alone at first instance in the Outer House.
Example: The Lord Ordinary hears cases of first instance in the Outer House of the Court of Session.
Explanation: The Lord Ordinary is a judge who presides over cases in the Outer House of the Court of Session, which is the supreme Scottish civil court. They hear cases alone at first instance, meaning they make the initial decision in a case before it can be appealed to a higher court.
In some states, the term "Lord Ordinary" may also refer to a court with jurisdiction over criminal cases.