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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Justice court, n. Also justis and courte. [Justice n.; Court n. 3.]

1. A court presided over by a Justice or Justices (Justice n. 6–11). 1490 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 368.
The justis court of Dunfermlyn be Schir Dauy Stewart Justis of the regalite haldyn in the tolbutht of the samyn c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 163.
I me schryif, Appeling fra thy justice court extreme Vnto thy court of mercy 1525 Acts II. 297/2.
Becaus mony persouns indytit to justice airis ar chargeit with souirtie to justice courtis Ib.
Ordanis the Justice generale … to sett justice courtis particulare quhen neid is for pvnicioun of particular faltis … that occurris 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 513/2.
Extreittis of justice-airis, unlawis [etc.] … of al maner of schiref courtis, justice courtis, stewart or ballie courtis … to … tak up 1530 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 339.
The grete … scaith done to our soverane lordis liegis … in persewing of thame at private justice courtis by the airis 1533 Crim. Trials I. i. 162*.
Rex. Justice and Justice clerk. Forsamekill as the ordour of our justice courtis ar gretumly abusit 1537 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 366.
In ane justice court haldin be me … for the serveing of ane breve of perambulacioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1329.
Than command was to put him in presoun, … Unto the time that justice court suld stand 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 284.
Commissions of justiciarie to Mathow Campbell … and Johnne Wallace … for halding of justice courtis … within the Baillierie of Kyle Stewart 1582 Ib. III. 501.
[Justices by commission, to] hald thair courtes of justiciarie within the tolbuithis of the burrowis of thay schyres … quhair the saidis generall justice courtes or aires ar ordanit to be haldin 1589 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 189.
In attaching … of all personis be vertew of the preceptis direct … to the haill schirefcourtis, justice aeris or iustice courtis be commissioun 1596 Dalr. I. 53/22.
Forfare … quhair is ane jugement sait, and justice courte haldne 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. ii. 162.
The Justitiar generall, either in his justice air, quhilk sould be halden twyse in the ȝeare, or in his particular justice courts, quhilk he may hald as occasion requyres any lawfull day 1624 Justiciary Cases I. 18.
Edinburgh, being the heid burgh of our shirefdome quhairin our said justice court was keipit and haldin 1622-6 Bisset I. 292/1.
[In cases of perambulation] the Justice or his deputtis suld cum to the ground of the landis at the courte tyme of day and there suld fens ane iustice court c1650 Spalding I. 8.
The Erll [of Moray, temporary Lieutenant in the North] beginis to hald justice courtis within the brughe of Elgyn … .This justice court wes fensit in the Erllis awin name, and in the name of the laird Innes [etc.] … his deputis

2. The Scottish Court of Justiciary, as an official body. 1672 Acts VIII. 87/2.
That the office of deputes in the Justice-court be suppressed 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii. xv. 1. (1678) 424.
The Justice Court with us, had for its members, the Justice-general, the Justice-clerk, the Justice-deputs, the Clerk-depute, the dempster, the officer, and the macers Id. Ib. 2. (1678) 424.
The Justice-court of old was the only soveraign court of the nation 1683 Erskine Jrnl. 25.
The Justice court sat this day 1684 Ib. 29.
Mr. Morison … owned the covenant stievely before the Justice Court 1685 Acts VIII. 458/2.
That the clerks of Council, the clerk of the Justice Court and the Sherif Deputs of Edinburgh shire are allowed to stay in the house the time of … Parliament 1695 Ib. IX. 365/2.
Act anent the Justice Court