Common law courts

Curia Regise created Royal Courts to deal with particular types of ases in which royal justice was sought. They developed in the following order:

Court of Exchequer

Court of Common Pleas

Court of Kings Bench

• Created by Henry I.
• Concerned with financial and revenue matters such as dealing with disputes over taxation.

• Created by Henry III in answer to a promise to Magna Carta (1215) to have a fixed place of settlemtn of 'common pleas'.

• Court dealt with civil disputes e.g. land.

• Legal costs high so generally just wealthy landowners could afford to bring in actions.

• Abolished by Judicature Acts 1873-75.

• Criminal and civil cases.

• Could hear appeals from other courts.

• Close connection with monarch: King.

• In Judicature Acts this court's powers were transferred to Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.