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Extraordinary Lord of Session facts for kids

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Extraordinary Lords of Session were special judges in Scotland a long time ago, from 1532 to 1762. They were part of Scotland's historical court system.

When the Court of Session was first created in 1532, it had a main judge called the Lord President. It also had 14 regular judges, known as Ordinary Lords. On top of these, there were three or four Extraordinary Lords.

What Were Extraordinary Lords?

The Extraordinary Lords were chosen directly by the King or Queen of Scotland. Unlike the regular judges, they didn't need to have any special legal training. They weren't paid for their work and could choose whether or not to attend court.

Why Were They Different?

This system might have been a way to keep powerful noble families happy by giving them a role in the courts. However, it also meant that the King or Queen could easily get involved in court cases. These Extraordinary Lords often only showed up for cases where they had a personal interest. This meant they might not always be fair or neutral.

The End of Extraordinary Lords

Over time, the number of Extraordinary Lords changed. In 1553, there were as many as eight, but people protested, and the number was brought back down to around four. This number stayed about the same until 1723.

Important Dates and People

In 1723, a new law was passed saying that no more Extraordinary Lords should be appointed. This meant the role would slowly disappear.

  • Archbishop Burnet was the last church leader to be an Extraordinary Lord. He served from 1664 to 1668.
  • John Hay, 4th Marquess of Tweeddale was the very last person to hold the title of Extraordinary Lord. He was in office from 1721 until 1762.

The practice of appointing these special judges stopped in 1721. The job of Extraordinary Lord was officially ended by a law called the Court of Session Act in 1723. This same law also made it clear that all regular judges (Ordinary Lords) had to be properly trained in law.

Some Extraordinary Lords

Many people held the title of Extraordinary Lord over the years. Here are a few examples:

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