quarter sessions
noun Law.
an English court of general criminal jurisdiction for crimes less than homicide, held quarterly.
(in the U.S.) a court with limited criminal jurisdiction, having local administrative powers in some states.
Origin of quarter sessions
First recorded in 1570–80
Words nearby quarter sessions
quarter plate,
quarter point,
quarter rest,
quarter round,
quarter section,
quarter sessions,
quarter tone,
quarter-bound,
quarter-breed,
quarter-hoop,
quarter-hour
Example sentences from the Web for quarter sessions
British Dictionary definitions for quarter sessions
quarter sessions
noun (functioning as singular or plural)
(in England and Wales, formerly) a criminal court held four times a year before justices of the peace or a recorder, empowered to try all but the most serious offences and to hear appeals from petty sessions. Replaced in 1972 by crown courts
See also crown court Compare assizes
(in Scotland, formerly) a court held by justices of the peace four times a year, empowered to hear appeals from justice of the peace courts and to deal with some licensing matters: abolished in 1975