Lady Justice ( Latin : Iustitia ) is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems. Her attributes are scales , a sword and sometimes a blindfold. She often appears as a pair with Prudentia .
50-608: The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales , commonly referred to as the Old Bailey after the street on which it stands, is a criminal court building in central London, one of several that house the Crown Court of England and Wales . The street outside follows the route of the ancient wall around the City of London , which was part of the fortification's bailey , hence the metonymic name. The court has been housed in
100-522: A courtroom , and the building as a courthouse ; court facilities range from simple and very small facilities in rural communities to large complex facilities in urban communities. The practical authority given to the court is known as its jurisdiction (from Latin iūrisdictiō , from iūris , "of the law ", + dīcō , "to declare", + -tiō , noun-forming suffix ), the court's power to decide certain kinds of questions or petitions put to it. According to William Blackstone 's Commentaries on
150-451: A defense before a court. The system of courts that interprets and applies the law is collectively known as the judiciary . The place where a court sits is known as a venue . The room where court proceedings occur is known as a courtroom , and the building as a courthouse ; court facilities range from simple and very small facilities in rural communities to large complex facilities in urban communities. The practical authority given to
200-562: A jury . The word court comes from the French cour , an enclosed yard, which derives from the Latin form cōrtem , the accusative case of cohors , which again means an enclosed yard or the occupants of such a yard. The English word court is thus a descendant of the Latin word hortus from Ancient Greek χόρτος ( khórtos ) (meaning "garden", hence horticulture and orchard), both referring to an enclosed space. The meaning of
250-423: A legal remedy . It is also usual in the superior courts to have barristers, and attorneys or counsel, as assistants, though, often, courts consist of additional barristers, bailiffs , reporters , and perhaps a jury . Jurisdiction is defined as the official authority to make legal decisions and judgements over a person or material item within a territory. "Whether a given court has jurisdiction to preside over
300-488: A body of law by combining local customs they were made aware of through traveling and visiting local jurisdictions. This common standard of law became known as "Common Law". This legal tradition is practiced in the English and American legal systems . In most civil law jurisdictions, courts function under an inquisitorial system . In the common law system, most courts follow the adversarial system . Procedural law governs
350-542: A gift from 15th-century Lord Mayor Richard Whittington . It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt in 1674, with the court open to the weather to prevent the spread of disease. The building was re-fronted in 1734, so as to enclose the court and reduce the influence of spectators: this led to outbreaks of typhus , notably in 1750 when 60 people died, including the Lord Mayor and two judges. It
400-430: A given case" is a key question in any legal action. Three basic components of jurisdiction are personal jurisdiction over an individual or thing ( rēs ), jurisdiction over the particular subject matter ( subject-matter jurisdiction ) and territorial jurisdiction . Jurisdiction over a person refers to the full authority over a person regardless of where they live, jurisdiction over a particular subject matter refers to
450-621: A judicial assembly is first attested in the 12th century, and derives from the earlier usage to designate a sovereign and his entourage, which met to adjudicate disputes in such an enclosed yard. The verb "to court", meaning to win favor, derives from the same source since people traveled to the sovereign's court to win his favor. The term the court is used to refer to the presiding officer or officials, usually one or more judges . The judge or panel of judges may also be collectively referred to as "the bench " (in contrast to attorneys and barristers , collectively referred to as "the bar "). In
500-406: A public spectacle in the street outside until May 1868. The condemned would be led along Dead Man's Walk between the buildings, and many were buried in the walk itself. Large, rowdy crowds sometimes gathered and pelted the condemned with rotten fruit and vegetables and stones. Some sources claim that, after 28 people were crushed to death when a pie-seller's stall overturned, a tunnel was made between
550-463: A succession of buildings on the street since the sixteenth century, when it was attached to the medieval Newgate Prison . The current main building block was completed in 1902, designed by Edward William Mountford ; its monumental architecture is recognised and protected as a Grade II* listed building . An extension, South Block, was constructed in 1972, over the former site of Newgate Prison which had been demolished in 1904. The Crown Court sitting in
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#1732765479168600-456: A symbol for the virtue of justice with which every emperor wished to associate his regime; emperor Vespasian minted coins with the image of the goddess seated on a throne called Iustitia Augusta , and many emperors after him used the image of the goddess to proclaim themselves protectors of justice. Though formally called a goddess with her own temple and cult shrine in Rome, it appears that she
650-553: Is equivalent to the Greek goddess Thémis . The origin of Lady Justice was Justitia (or Iustitia ), the goddess of Justice within Roman mythology . Justitia was introduced by emperor Augustus , and was thus not a very old deity in the Roman pantheon . Justice was one of the virtues celebrated by emperor Augustus in his clipeus virtutis , and a temple of Justitia was established in Rome by emperor Tiberius . Justitia became
700-671: Is to depict a blindfolded Lady Justice as a human scale, weighing competing claims in each hand. An example of this can be seen at the Shelby County Courthouse in Memphis, Tennessee . In October 2024, the Supreme Court of India announced a new template for statues of Lady Justice for use in India. Henceforth, the blindfold will not be used and the sword is replaced by a book representing the constitution. Announcing
750-495: The reus or defendant , who is called upon to make satisfaction for it; and the jūdex or judicial power, who is to examine the truth of the fact, determine the law arising upon that fact, and, if any injury appears to have been done, ascertain and by its officers apply a legal remedy . It is also usual in the superior courts to have barristers, and attorneys or counsel, as assistants, though, often, courts consist of additional barristers, bailiffs , reporters , and perhaps
800-529: The Janus approach, many sculptures simply leave out the blindfold altogether. For example, atop the Old Bailey courthouse in London , a statue of Lady Justice stands without a blindfold; the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her "maidenly form" is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant. Another variation
850-504: The Provisional IRA exploded a car bomb in the street outside, killing one and injuring 200 people. A shard of glass is preserved as a reminder, embedded in the wall at the top of the main stairs. The hall (and its floor) was decorated with many busts and statues, chiefly of British monarchs, but also of legal figures, and those who achieved renown by campaigning for improvement in prison conditions from 1700 to 1900. This part of
900-414: The administration of justice in civil , criminal , and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law . In both common law and civil law legal systems , courts are the central means for dispute resolution , and it is generally understood that all people have an ability to bring their claims before a court. Similarly, the rights of those accused of a crime include the right to present
950-633: The finders of fact (these are known as jury trials ) or trials in which judges act as both finders of fact and finders of law (in some jurisdictions these are known as bench trials ). Juries are less common in court systems outside the Anglo-American common law tradition. Appellate courts are courts that hear appeals of lower courts and trial courts. Some courts, such as the Crown Court in England and Wales, may have both trial and appellate jurisdictions. The two major legal traditions of
1000-639: The title character demolishes it to gain the public's attention, and Justice League and its director's cut , in which Wonder Woman foils a terrorist bomb plot. In Agatha Christie 's play, Witness for the Prosecution , the murder trial of Leonard Vole is held at the Old Bailey. It is also a central location in The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and its sequel The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve , where many of
1050-482: The Central Criminal Court." Court A court is any person or institution , often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil , criminal , and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law . The practical authority given to the court is known as its jurisdiction ,
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#17327654791681100-450: The City of London and of Middlesex . In addition to sessions court, the Old Bailey also held trials, similar to the travelling Courts of Assize held in other parts of England and Wales. The original medieval court is first mentioned in 1585; it was next to the older Newgate Prison , and seems to have grown out of the endowment to improve the gaol and rooms for the sheriffs, made possible by
1150-418: The City of London are entitled to sit on the judges' bench during a hearing but do not participate in hearings. Where a ceremonial tradition is followed, a judge, sitting solo, will sit off-centre in case the Lord Mayor should decide to come in, in which case they would take the centre chair. The most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court has the title of Recorder of London , and their deputy has
1200-495: The Laws of England , a court (for civil wrongs ) is constituted by a minimum of three parties: the āctor or plaintiff , who complains of an injury done; the reus or defendant , who is called upon to make satisfaction for it; and the jūdex or judicial power, who is to examine the truth of the fact, determine the law arising upon that fact, and, if any injury appears to have been done, ascertain and by its officers apply
1250-531: The Old Bailey hears major criminal cases from within Greater London . In exceptional cases, trials may be referred to the Old Bailey from other parts of England and Wales. As with most courts in England and Wales, trials at the Old Bailey are open to the public, although they are subject to stringent security procedures. The court originated as the sessions house of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of
1300-741: The Recorder is a member of the Common Council because he is also a member of the Court of Aldermen . The city's sheriffs and the Lord Mayor are justices there, but their jurisdiction is now nominal. The sheriffs are resident with the senior judges in the complex. Court 1 has benches set aside for the committee of City Bridge Foundation , the owner of the building. The Old Bailey has been mentioned and featured in numerous fictional works including film, video games and literature. Notable examples include V for Vendetta and its film adaptation , in which
1350-468: The United States, the legal authority of a court to take action is based on personal jurisdiction over the parties to the litigation and subject-matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted. The system of courts that interprets and applies the law is collectively known as the judiciary . The place where a court sits is known as a venue . The room where court proceedings occur is known as
1400-686: The authority over the said subject of legal cases involved in a case, and lastly territorial jurisdiction is the authority over a person within an x amount of space. Other concepts of jurisdiction include general , exclusive , appellate , and (in the United States federal courts ) diversity jurisdiction . Courts may be organized into a hierarchy of courts and have specific jurisdiction and include specialized courts . Trial courts are courts that hold trials . Sometimes termed "courts of first instance", trial courts have varying original jurisdiction . Trial courts may conduct trials with juries as
1450-453: The building also housed the stenographers' offices until the stenographers were replaced by technology in March 2012. On 7 February 2024, around 1,500 people were forced to evacuate the building following a fire and reports of five separate explosions at the rear of the Central Criminal Court. Defendants on remand were returned to prison and juries were sent home. Until 2017, the court manager
1500-526: The change, the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud declared that "the law is not blind, it sees everyone equally". The sword represented authority in ancient times, and conveys the idea that justice can be swift and final. In India, as noted above, the sword is replaced by a book representing the consitution. The Greco-Roman garment symbolizes the status of the philosophical attitude that embodies justice. Unicode version 4.1.0 implemented
1550-462: The court is known as its jurisdiction (from Latin iūrisdictiō , from iūris , "of the law ", + dīcō , "to declare", + -tiō , noun-forming suffix ), the court's power to decide certain kinds of questions or petitions put to it. According to William Blackstone 's Commentaries on the Laws of England , a court (for civil wrongs ) is constituted by a minimum of three parties: the āctor or plaintiff , who complains of an injury done;
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1600-470: The court's power to decide certain kinds of questions or petitions put to it. There are various kinds of courts, including trial courts that hold trials and appellate courts that hear appeals . Two major legal traditions of the western world are the civil law courts and the common law courts. A court is any person or institution , often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out
1650-643: The end of the eleventh century and became a foundation for university legal education starting in Bologna, Italy and subsequently being taught throughout continental European universities. Civil law is firmly ensconced in the French and German legal systems . Common law courts were established by English royal judges of the King's Council after the Norman Invasion of Britain in 1066. The royal judges created
1700-528: The figure is not blindfolded: the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her "maidenly form" is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant. During the Blitz of the Second World War, the Old Bailey was bombed and severely damaged, but reconstruction work restored most of it in the early 1950s. In 1952,
1750-592: The ideal that justice should be applied without regard to wealth, power, or other status. The earliest Roman coins depicted Justitia with the sword in one hand and the scale in the other, but with her eyes uncovered. Justitia was only commonly represented as "blind" since the middle of the 16th century. The first known representation of blind Justice is Hans Gieng 's 1543 statue on the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice) in Bern . Instead of using
1800-477: The judicial system and are generally private arbitrators , are depicted within the court show genre; however, the courts depicted have been criticized as misrepresenting real-life courts of law and the true nature of the legal system. Notable court shows include: Lady Justice Lady Justice originates from the personification of Justice in Ancient Roman art known as Iustitia or Justitia , who
1850-468: The people is supreme " "Right lives by law and law subsists by power" "Poise the cause in justice's equal scales" "Moses gave unto the people the laws of God" "London shall have all its ancient rights" Between 1968 and 1972, a new South Block, designed by the architects Donald McMorran and George Whitby, was built to accommodate more modern courts. In 1973, the Belfast Brigade of
1900-419: The personification of the divine rightness of law. Lady Justice is often depicted with a set of scales, typically suspended from one hand, upon which she balances the relative substance and value (ie the 'weight') of the available evidence and arguments on both sides of any bilateral dispute. The scales can therefore 'tip in favour' of either side, and justice, in terms of the metaphor, can be enacted upon seeing
1950-426: The prison and St Sepulchre's church opposite the crossroads, to allow the chaplain to minister to the condemned without having to force his way through crowds; but there are no known primary sources or photographic evidence that indicate that it actually existed. The present building dates from 1902 and was officially opened by King Edward VII on 27 February 1907. It was designed by E. W. Mountford and co-occupies
2000-481: The restored interior of the Grand or Great Hall of the Central Criminal Court was once again open. This hall (underneath the dome) is decorated with paintings commemorating the Blitz, as well as quasi-historical scenes of St Paul's Cathedral with nobles outside. Running around the entire hall are a series of axioms, some of biblical reference. They read: "The law of the wise is a fountain of life" " The welfare of
2050-445: The result. The Greek goddess Dike is depicted holding a set of scales: If some god had been holding level the balance of Dike (Justice). Since the 16th century, Lady Justice has often been depicted wearing a blindfold. The blindfold was originally a satirical addition intended to show Justice as blind to the injustice carried on before her, but it has been reinterpreted over time and is now understood to represent impartiality ,
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2100-752: The rules by which courts operate: civil procedure for private disputes (for example); and criminal procedure for violation of the criminal law. In recent years, international courts are being created to resolve matters not covered by the jurisdiction of national courts. For example, the International Criminal Court , based in The Hague , in the Netherlands, or the Court of Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), based in India. Television show courts, which are often not part of
2150-591: The site of the demolished prison. Above the main entrance is inscribed the admonition: "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer". On the dome above the court stands the court's symbolic gilt bronze statue of Lady Justice by sculptor F. W. Pomeroy (made 1905–1906). She holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice , but
2200-566: The title of Common Serjeant of London . The position of "Recorder of London" is distinct from that of a recorder , which is a part-time judicial office, holders of which sit part-time as judges of the Crown Court or County Court. The recent Recorders of London have been: The court house originated as part of the City of London 's borough judicial system, and it remains so. The Recorder and the Common Serjeant are city officers, and
2250-511: The trials in the games' plot take place. Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer , in which Horace Rumpole, an elderly London barrister, defends a broad variety of clients, often underdogs. In The Pirates of Penzance , upon defeating the police, the pirates declare that "No pirate band will take its stand / At
2300-413: The western world are the civil law courts and the common law courts. These two great legal traditions are similar, in that they are products of western culture, although there are significant differences between the two traditions. Civil law courts are profoundly based upon Roman law , specifically a civil body of law entitled Corpus Juris Civilis . This theory of civil law was rediscovered around
2350-408: Was a poisoner and murderer. This led to fears that he could not receive a fair trial in his native Staffordshire . The Central Criminal Court Act 1856 was passed to enable his trial, and others with a public profile, to be held at the Old Bailey. In London cant it was called The Gate , an abbreviation of Newgate. The Old Bailey adjoined Newgate Prison until the jail's 1902 closure. Hangings were
2400-416: Was from the onset viewed more as an artistic symbolic personification rather than as an actual deity with religious significance. The personification of justice balancing the scales dates back to the goddess Maat , and later Isis , of ancient Egypt . The Hellenic deities Themis and Dike were later goddesses of justice. Themis was the embodiment of divine order, law, and custom, in her aspect as
2450-607: Was known by the title of the Secondary of the City of London , an ancient title of a City officer. His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service manages the courts and administers the trials but the building itself is owned by the City of London Corporation , which finances the maintenance and running of the building and the staff costs out of their own resources. All judges sitting in the Old Bailey are addressed as " My Lord " or "My Lady", whether they are High Court , circuit judges or recorders . The Lord Mayor and aldermen of
2500-538: Was rebuilt again in 1774 and a second courtroom was added in 1824. Over 100,000 criminal trials were carried out at the Old Bailey between 1674 and 1834. In 1834, it was renamed from the Assize Court for London to the Central Criminal Court. The court was envisaged as that where only criminals accused of crimes committed in the City and Middlesex were tried. However, in 1856, there was public revulsion at complaints sent to police against doctor William Palmer that he
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