Vice admiralty court

Vice admiralty court

Vice admiralty courts were juryless courts located in British colonies that were granted jurisdiction over local legal matters related to maritime activities, such as disputes between merchants and seamen. Judges were given 5% of confiscated cargo, if they found a smuggling defendant guilty. This gave judges financial incentive to find defendants guilty.

Australia

The first vice-admiralty court established in Australia was in the colony of New South Wales in 1788. The first Vice-Admiral was Arthur Phillip and the first judge was Robert Ross. The court was abolished in 1911 when the Supreme Court of New South Wales was granted the admiralty jurisdiction of the court.

Canada

A vice admiralty court was formed in Nova Scotia to try smugglers and to enforce the Sugar Act of 1764 throughout British North America. From 1763–1765, when American smugglers were caught, they were tried by corrupt judges who received a percentage of the confiscated goods if the defendants were found guilty; therefore, defendants were less than likely to be found innocent.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vice-admiralty court — Vice Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vice Admiralty Court (New South Wales) — The Vice Admiralty Court was a prerogative court established in the early eighteenth century in the colony of New South Wales, which was to become a state of Australia. A vice admiralty court is in effect an admiralty court. The word “vice” in… …   Wikipedia

  • vice-admiralty court — noun : a British Admiralty court established in a colony beyond the seas in which the governor of the colony in his capacity as vice admiral exercises his judicial authority for the trial of maritime cases of a civil nature including prize cases …   Useful english dictionary

  • Vice admiralty — Vice Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Admiralty court — Admiralty law History …   Wikipedia

  • Vice — Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul, etc …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vice admiral — Vice Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vice chamberlain — Vice Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vice chancellor — Vice Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Vice consul — Vice Vice, a. [Cf. F. vice . See {Vice}, prep.] Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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