Petty sessional division
Encyclopedia
A petty sessional division was, in England and Wales
, the area that a Magistrates' Court
had jusridiction over. Petty sessional divisions were gradually consolidated in the 20th century (being reorganised in 1953 under the Justices of the Peace Act 1949), and were replaced by local justice areas in 2005.
Petty sessional divisions were established under an Act of 1828 (9 Geo. IV c.43), which formalised the often previously informal summary trials presided over by magistrates. The divisions come from the terminology of the magistrates sitting in Petty Sessions, as opposed to Quarter Sessions
.
The areas were restated by the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973 (SI 1973/1593).
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, the area that a Magistrates' Court
Magistrates' Court
A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions...
had jusridiction over. Petty sessional divisions were gradually consolidated in the 20th century (being reorganised in 1953 under the Justices of the Peace Act 1949), and were replaced by local justice areas in 2005.
Petty sessional divisions were established under an Act of 1828 (9 Geo. IV c.43), which formalised the often previously informal summary trials presided over by magistrates. The divisions come from the terminology of the magistrates sitting in Petty Sessions, as opposed to Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
.
The areas were restated by the Local Government (Petty Sessional Divisions etc.) Order 1973 (SI 1973/1593).