The Right Honourable JOHN SINGLETON LORD LYND HURST, LORD CHIEF BARON, 6, Hyde Park Ter race. Sir JOHN BAYLEY, Knight, 41, Bedford Square. B OFFICERS OF THE COURT. THOMAS DAX, Esq. KENRICK COLLETT, Esq. EDMUND WALKER, Esq. Mr. Stannard WILLIAM STEWART ROSE, Esq. Clerk of the Pleas. Officers regulated by The Officers on the plea side of the court, and their Statute 2 and several duties, were regulated by the statute of the 2d and 3d of Will. 4, c. 110. 3 Will. 4, c. 110. Appointment of Clerk of the Pleas. Office abolished. The power of appointment of the clerk of the pleas was formerly in the Chancellor of the Exchequer: afterwards it was by statute given to the Lords of the Treasury; but by the act above mentioned, the office when of Masters. ever it may again become vacant, is abolished. During the lifetime however of the present clerk of the pleas, or so long as he shall hold that office, he is to have the appointment of the three masters, or prothonotaries, who Appointment are appointed quam diu se bene gesserint; but upon the office of the clerk of the pleas being abolished, they are to be in the appointment, (as vacancies occur), of the Lord Chief Baron for the time being. The offices of the clerk Clerk of the of the rules, and filazer, are in the appointment of the Filazer. Lord Chief Baron. The assistants and clerks to the principal officers, are appointed by the principal officers, and they are answerable for such clerks and assistants. Rules and It should be observed, that the statute above mentioned, Fees. does not interfere with the fees of the officers; the same fees are still payable in the course of the proceedings; but some fees which, were formerly payable to one officer, are transferred to another. The fees formerly payable to the sworn clerks, are now payable to the clerk of the rules, or the filazer; and some fees payable to the master, are now received by the clerk of the rules, or the filazer, on account of the masters, where such fees were payable in respect of matters and duties, partly executed by the master, and partly by the sworn clerk this is done to avoid giving trouble to suitors or their attornies, who would otherwise have to split the fees, and pay part thereof to one officer, and part to another. The fees are in no other respect altered, except where alterations have been made by act of parliament, or rule of court. THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE COURT. Officers. Clerk of the Pleas. THE CLERK OF THE PLEAS. Duties of the IT is the duty of the clerk of the pleas to provide proper offices, wherein all the business of the court, (out of court) is to be transacted. His name is used in the signing of mesne process, and also affixed to rules of court and other proceedings: his other duties are performed by the other officers of the court. Masters and Prothonota ries. MASTERS AND PROTHONOTARIES. The duties of the masters and prothonotaries are very multifarious. They attend in the Court of Exchequer at Westminster, daily in term time, and are to answer the court, when referred to, on any matters of practice. They also sign all original, mesne, and judicial process, issuing out of the office of pleas, examine and file the præcipes for writs, affidavits, and judges' orders, and enter præcipes for writs in books kept for that purpose; they take affidavits to hold to bail, and affidavits of service and of mesne process. |