John Baldwin (Chief Justice)
Encyclopedia
His Worship Sir John Baldwin JP
KS (died 24 October 1545) was a British justice. Details of his early career are sketchy; he joined the Inner Temple
some time before 1500, and was practicing in the Court of Requests
by 1506, followed by an appointment as a Justice of the Peace
for Buckinghamshire
in 1510. He gave his first reading at Inner Temple in 1516, and served as its treasurer from 1521 to 1523. In 1529 he was returned to Parliament for Hindon
, and in 1530 he was made Attorney General for Wales and for the Duchy of Lancaster
. He delivered a third reading at the Inner Temple in 1531 on the subject of De prisonam frangentibus, and was created a Serjeant-at-law
the same year, being promoted to King's Serjeant upon his creation. In 1534 he was knighted, something Sir John Spelman
noted as "unprecedented" for a Serjeant.
After the death of Sir Robert Norwich
in 1535 Baldwin was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
, with the investiture taking place on 19 April of that year. He died in office on 24 October 1545 and was buried in Aylesbury
Church.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
KS (died 24 October 1545) was a British justice. Details of his early career are sketchy; he joined the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
some time before 1500, and was practicing in the Court of Requests
Court of Requests
The Court of Requests was a minor equity court in England and Wales. Created at an unknown date, it first became a formal tribunal with some Privy Council elements under Henry VII, hearing cases from the poor and the servants of the King. It quickly became popular due to the low cost of bringing a...
by 1506, followed by an appointment as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
in 1510. He gave his first reading at Inner Temple in 1516, and served as its treasurer from 1521 to 1523. In 1529 he was returned to Parliament for Hindon
Hindon (UK Parliament constituency)
Hindon was a parliamentary borough consisting of the village of Hindon in Wiltshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1448 until 1832, when the borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
, and in 1530 he was made Attorney General for Wales and for the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
. He delivered a third reading at the Inner Temple in 1531 on the subject of De prisonam frangentibus, and was created a Serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
the same year, being promoted to King's Serjeant upon his creation. In 1534 he was knighted, something Sir John Spelman
John Spelman
Sir John Spelman was an English historian and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1626. He is known for his biography of Alfred the Great.-Life:...
noted as "unprecedented" for a Serjeant.
After the death of Sir Robert Norwich
Robert Norwich
His Worship Sir Robert Norwich KS JP was a British justice. He was a member of Lincoln's Inn, and is first mentioned practicing in the Court of Requests in 1516, followed by service in his home county of Essex as a commissioner in 1518. The same year he became a Bencher of his Inn, also giving his...
in 1535 Baldwin was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, also known as the Common Bench or Common Place, was the second highest common law court in the English legal system until 1880, when it was dissolved. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord...
, with the investiture taking place on 19 April of that year. He died in office on 24 October 1545 and was buried in Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
Church.