A History of the County Court, 1846–1971 (Cambridge Studies in English Legal History)

This 1999 book was the first full-length account of the county court, which in contemporary English life has become the main forum for most civil disputes. It began as the 'poor man's court', largely concerned with the pursuit of working-class debtors; but, as this book shows, it has expanded far beyond its origins as an agency `for the more easy recovery of small debts' and now includes in its jurisdiction a diverse range of matters, including housing, accidents and consumer goods. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the author traces the history of the county court from its creation in 1846 through to the reconstruction of the court system in 1971. He describes its organisation and officers, from judges to bailiffs, and discusses the roles of judges, practising lawyers and lay persons. The text is an intriguing engagement with themes including access to justice. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 CONTENTS......Page 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 13 ABBREVIATIONS......Page 14 TABLE OF CASES......Page 17 TABLE OF STATUTES......Page 19 Statutory instruments......Page 23 INTRODUCTION......Page 25 THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE COURTS......Page 29 THE ORIGINS OF THE NEW COUNTY COURTS......Page 37 THE EMERGENCE OF THE NEW COURTS......Page 51 THE NEW COURTS AND THE NEW JUDGES......Page 62 THE NEW COURTS IN ACTION......Page 65 THE COURTS UNDER SCRUTINY......Page 75 COUNTY COURTS ASCENDANT......Page 81 DEBTORS AND CREDITORS......Page 92 THE TURNING POINT......Page 98 A measure of consolidation......Page 111 Torts and workmen's compensation......Page 114 The renewed campaign for wider powers......Page 119 LIBERAL GOVERNMENTS......Page 127 Envoi......Page 133 THE GREAT WAR......Page 135 RECONSTRUCTION: COURTS FIT FOR HEROES......Page 139 NEW JURISDICTIONS......Page 148 County courts at work......Page 155 Rules and procedures......Page 160 The cost of justice......Page 166 THE SECOND WORLD WAR......Page 171 TINKERING WITH THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE......Page 177 COURTS UNDER PRESSURE......Page 190 COURTS IN ACTION......Page 198 COURTS UNDER SCRUTINY......Page 202 COURTS UNDER RECONSTRUCTION......Page 215 THE LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT......Page 222 THE COUNTY COURTS BRANCH......Page 225 The Whitley Councils......Page 232 COUNTY COURT DISTRICT ORGANISATION......Page 234 THE RULE COMMITTEE......Page 240 Fees......Page 250 The registry of county court judgments......Page 257 Funds in court......Page 259 THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT......Page 264 Eligibility......Page 265 Information......Page 266 Applicants' motives......Page 267 Political influences......Page 269 Age......Page 271 Sex......Page 272 Judicial experience......Page 273 Record at the bar......Page 274 Salaries......Page 275 Residence and expenses......Page 277 Transfers......Page 278 The trappings of office......Page 279 Collateral activities......Page 281 Promotion......Page 283 Resignation......Page 284 Dismissal......Page 285 Death in office......Page 287 Age......Page 288 Social background......Page 289 Schooling......Page 290 Life experience......Page 291 Celebrity......Page 292 Workload......Page 294 'Lifestyle'......Page 296 THE JUDICIAL ROLE OF REGISTRARS......Page 300 Appointment......Page 305 Conditions of service......Page 308 Assistant and deputy registrars......Page 311 Leaving office......Page 312 The Association of County Court Registrars......Page 314 Before the Swift Report......Page 316 After the Swift Report......Page 322 Before the Swift Report......Page 328 After the Swift Report......Page 333 COURTHOUSES AND OFFICES......Page 340 APPENDIX 1 THE MAYOR'S AND CITY OF LONDON COURTS......Page 346 APPENDIX 2 COUNTY COURT TOWNS, 1847–1971......Page 350 APPENDIX 3 STATISTICAL TABLES......Page 357 MANUSCRIPT SOURCES......Page 383 Bills......Page 384 House of Commons series......Page 388 House of Lords Journals......Page 391 House of Commons papers (PP series)......Page 392 House of Lords Sessional Papers......Page 393 WORKS OF REFERENCE......Page 394 PERIODICALS, NEWSPAPERS AND ANNUAL PUBLICATIONS......Page 395 BOOKS, ARTICLES, ETC.......Page 396 INDEX......Page 412 This is the first full-length account of the County Court, a court which in contemporary English life has become the main forum for most civil disputes. The importance of the 'Poor Man's Court' in pursuing working-class debtors has long been recognised, but as this book shows, it has expanded far beyond its origins as an agency 'for the more easy recovery of small debts' and now includes in its jurisdiction a diverse range of matters including housing, accidents and consumer goods. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the author traces the history of the County Court from its creation in 1846 all the way through to the reconstruction of the courts in 1971. He describes their organisation and officers, from judges to bailiffs, and discusses the roles of lawyers and lay persons. Given the current controversy over access to justice, this is a timely new history

The first full-length account of the establishment of the County Court in England and Wales in 1846 and its work, through to its reconstruction in 1971. It traces its development from being largely a debt collection agency to its far wider jurisdiction today as the main forum for civil disputes. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the author describes its organization and officers and discusses the roles of lawyers and lay persons. Given the current controversy over access to justice, this is a timely new history.

The first full account of the establishment of the County Court in 1846 and its work, through to its reconstruction in 1971. It traces its development from being largely a debt collection agency through to its ultimately far wider jurisdiction as the main forum for most civil disputes This 1999 book was the first full-length account of the county court, which in contemporary English life has become the main forum for most civil disputes. It began as the 'poor man's court'; but, as this book shows, it has expanded beyond its working-class origins.