Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: Manual of the Judge Advocate General
Sessions: A type of court that used to be held in each county (or borough) four times a year to deal with criminal cases. The court was made up of justices of the peace and had the power to try and determine all felonies and trespasses. Nowadays, this court has been abolished in most places and its jurisdiction has been transferred to the Crown Court. In some states, a court called the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace is still held four times a year to deal with misdemeanors and administrative tasks like taking care of public roads and bridges.
Definition: Sessions refer to a court of criminal jurisdiction that is held in each county or borough once every quarter of a year. The court is made up of a county's justices of the peace and has the power to try and determine all felonies and trespasses. In some states, sessions are also held four times a year with jurisdiction over misdemeanors and administrative tasks such as the care of public roads and bridges.
These examples illustrate how sessions courts are held at regular intervals and have the power to try and determine criminal cases. They also show how sessions courts can have different levels of jurisdiction depending on the state or country in which they are held.