Description
This book is a history of the county court, which is a court system in England and Wales. The county court is a forum for most civil disputes, and it began as a court system for the pursuit of working-class debtors. However, the county court now includes a diverse range of matters in its jurisdiction, including housing, accidents, and consumer goods. The author traces the history of the county court from its creation in 1846 to the reconstruction of the court system in 1971. He describes the organization and officers of the county court, and discusses the roles of judges, practising lawyers, and lay persons. The author is strong on numerous points of detail, and his analysis is full of variety and color. This book is an important history of the county court, and it is also formidably strong in its use of the sort of primary sources which are often ignored by writers on the English and Welsh legal system.
This 1999 book was the first full-length account of the county court, which in contemporary English life has become the main forum for most civil disputes. It began as the 'poor man's court', largely concerned with the pursuit of working-class debtors; but, as this book shows, it has expanded far beyond its origins as an agency 'for the more easy recovery of small debts' and now includes in its jurisdiction a diverse range of matters, including housing, accidents and consumer goods. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the author traces the history of the county court from its creation in 1846 through to the reconstruction of the court system in 1971. He describes its organisation and officers, from judges to bailiffs, and discusses the roles of judges, practising lawyers and lay persons. The text is an intriguing engagement with themes including access to justice. Review: Review of the hardback: 'Patrick Polden is strong on numerous points of detail. Nothing escapes his attention ... his analysis is full of variety and colour. It is an important book on a central topic. It is also formidably strong in its use of the sort of primary sources which are often ignored by writers on the English and Welsh legal system.' Legal Studies
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