VPRS 11589 Court of Petty Sessions Record Book

Courts of Petty Sessions (now known as Magistrates' Courts) dealt with a very large range of "minor" court matters. Cases were heard in three jurisdictions: criminal, civil, and licensing. In the nineteenth century they provided the lowest level of redress in civil and criminal matters. The County Court and the Supreme Court heard and determined more serious criminal cases and larger civil disputes. The licensing jurisdiction included both liquor and non-liquor licensing matters until 1886 when separate liquor Licensing Courts were established.The clerks of Petty Sessions were required to keep a record of all decisions and orders made by Courts of Petty Sessions. This record is the authoritative record of the court. Information is entered under the headings of date, title of the cause, depositions and adjudication.

小额诉讼法院（Courts of Petty Sessions，现称治安法院（Magistrates' Courts））负责处理范围极广的“轻微”司法事务。该类法院的案件审理涵盖三类司法管辖范畴：刑事、民事与许可类事务。19世纪时期，其为民事与刑事事务中最低层级的救济途径。郡法院（County Court）与最高法院（Supreme Court）则负责审理并裁决更为严重的刑事案件及标的额更高的民事纠纷。在1886年专门的酒类许可法院设立前，其许可管辖范畴同时覆盖酒类与非酒类许可事务。小额诉讼法院的书记员需完整记录该法院作出的全部裁判与命令，此类记录为法院的权威官方档案。相关信息将按照日期、案由、证言笔录及裁判结果等栏目进行录入归档。