Justice of Chester facts for kids

The Justice of Chester was like the main judge or legal boss for a special area called the county palatine of Chester. This area included Cheshire, the City of Chester, and Flintshire. The Justice of Chester was in charge of the law there from when the county was first set up until 1830. That's when these special courts were stopped, and the area came under the main courts in London.

Within the County Palatine, the Justice had similar powers to the top courts in England. These were the Court of Common Pleas and the King's Bench. When King Henry VIII made changes to the laws in Wales and the border areas, the power of the Earl of Chester (who was also the Prince of Wales) became less. However, the power of the Justice of Chester actually grew.

In 1542, special courts called the Great Sessions were created in Wales. Wales was divided into four areas, each with three counties. Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Montgomeryshire became part of the Chester area. The Justice of Chester was in charge of these courts. Later, under Queen Elizabeth I, a second judge was added to each Welsh area. From then on, the two judges were usually called the Chief Justice of Chester and the Second or Puisne Justice of Chester.

Because the judges in Cheshire could also work as barristers (lawyers) in English courts or be part of Parliament, the job of Chief Justice was often given as a special favour by the government to lawyers who wanted to get ahead. The jobs of Chief and Puisne Justice were ended in 1830. This was part of bigger changes that brought Wales under the control of the main courts in London.

Early Justices of Chester

This list shows some of the important judges who served as the Justice of Chester before the roles were split into Chief and Puisne Justice.

• Philip Orreby 1202–29
• John de Grey c.1246
• William de Vernon 1229–?1236
• Richard de Vernon
• Earl of Lincoln
• John Lestrange 1241-1245
• John Grey 1245-1249
• Alan la Zouche 1250–1255
• Gilbert Talbot 1255–
• Roger de Montalt/Mohaut (aka Mold) 1258–1259
• Fulk de Orreby 1259–1261
• Thomas de Orreby 1261–1262
• William la Zouche 1262–
• Luke de Thaney c.1265
• James de Audley c.1265
• Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton c.1270
• Robert de Ufford c.1276–
• Guncelin Badelesmere 1276-79
• Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton 1281-1290
• Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton c.1297
• Richard Massy c.1300
• Robert Holland, 1st Baron Holand c.1307–c.1320
• Pain de Tibetot c.1311
• Richard Daumary c.1325
• William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon c.1330
• Hugh de Freyne c.1335
• Henry Ferrers, 2nd Baron Ferrers of Groby 1336–1342
• Thomas de Felton 1369–1381
• Sir John Holland 1381–1385
• Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York 1385–1387
• Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland 1387–1388
• Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester 1388–1391
• John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter 1391–1394
• Thomas de Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk 1394–1398
• William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire 1398–1399
• Henry Percy 1400–1403
• Gilbert Talbot, 5th Baron Talbot 1403–1419
• Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter 1420–1427
• Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester 1427–1440
• William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk 1440–1450 (jointly from 1443, murdered 1450)
• Thomas Stanley, 1st Baron Stanley 1443–1459 (jointly to 1450)
• John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury 1459–1460 (KIA 1460)
• in commission 1460
• John Needham 1461
• Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby 1461–1471
• Richard, Duke of Gloucester 1471
• Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby 1471–1504
• Sir Thomas Englefield 1505–1514?
• Sir Nicholas Hare 1540–1545
• Sir Robert Townshend 1545–1557
• Sir John Pollard 1557
• George Wood Esq.1558 of Hall atte Wood, Balterley, Staffordshire
• John Throckmorton 1558–1578
• Sir George Bromley 1564–1589
• Richard Shuttleworth 1589–1592
• Sir Richard Lewknor 1592–1616

Chief and Puisne Justices of Chester

This table lists the Chief Justices and Puisne Justices of Chester from 1603 until their roles were ended in 1830.

The offices of Justice of Chester were ended in 1830.