The People’s Courts?

Abstract

Innes and Styles recognised that our understanding of how the criminal justice system was used in the eighteenth century was incomplete without better knowledge of the actions of Justices of the Peace (JPs) and their courts of petty sessions.¹ This situation is slowly beginning to change but the summary courts remain relatively under researched.² This study of the City of London’s summary courts therefore offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the criminal justice system and how it was used. In answer to Innes and Styles’ request it has examined the process of pre-trial examinations and considered to what extent discretion was available throughout. In doing so it has identified a number of important points for consideration.