[QUARTER sb. 8 a.]
1. In England and Ireland: A court of limited criminal and civil jurisdiction, and of appeal, held quarterly by the justices of peace in the counties (in Ireland by county-court judges), and by the recorder in boroughs.
1572. Harrison, England, II. iv. (1877), I. 100. They haue finallie their quarter sessions, wherein they are assisted by the justices and gentlemen of the countrie.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 233. Justices of Peace in their Quarter-sessions, have power to hear and determine the offences aforesaid.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 122, ¶ 4. There is not one in the Town where he lives that he has not sued at a Quarter-Sessions.
1844. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xix. § 6 (1862), 375. Much of the criminal business of England is transacted by the quarter-sessions.
1901. L. Courtney, Working Const. U. K., II. 243. Prisoners apprehended under charge of crime are … committed for trial at the Assizes or Quarter Sessions.
attrib. 1847. Tennyson, Princess, Concl. 90. A quarter-sessions chairman, abler none.
2. In Scotland: A court of review and appeal held quarterly by the Justices of the Peace on days appointed by statute (1661).
1661. Sc. Acts Parl., c. xxxviii. (1681), The Justices of Peace … shall appoint at the Quarter Sessions … the ordinary Hire and Wages of Labourers.
1679. in Wodrow, Hist. Ch. Scot. (1722), II. 17. With Power … to call the remanent Justices of Peace to the Quarter-sessions.
1773. J. Erskine, Inst. Laws Scot., I. iv. 60. Constables … are appointed by them in their quarter-sessions.
1898. Green’s Encycl. Law Scot., VII. 268. A judgment in Quarter Sessions cannot be reviewed by a later Quarter Sessions.
