Justice of the Common Pleas


Justice of the Common Pleas was a puisne judicial position within the Court of Common Pleas of England and Wales, under the Chief Justice. The Common Pleas was the primary court of common law within England and Wales, dealing with "common" pleas. It was created out of the common law jurisdiction of the Exchequer of Pleas, with splits forming during the 1190s and the division becoming formal by the beginning of the 13th century. The court became a key part of the Westminster courts, along with the Exchequer of Pleas and the Court of King's Bench, but with the Writ of Quominus and the Statute of Westminster, both tried to extend their jurisdiction into the realm of common pleas. As a result, the courts jockeyed for power. In 1828 Henry Brougham, a Member of Parliament, complained in Parliament that as long as there were three courts unevenness was inevitable, saying that "It is not in the power of the courts, even if all were monopolies and other restrictions done away, to distribute business equally, as long as suitors are left free to choose their own tribunal", and that there would always be a favourite court, which would therefore attract the best lawyers and judges and entrench its position. The outcome was the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873, under which all the central courts were made part of a single Supreme Court of Judicature. Eventually the government created a High Court of Justice under Lord Coleridge by an Order in Council of 16 December 1880. At this point, the Common Pleas formally ceased to exist.
The number of Justices at any one time varied; between 1377 and 1420 there were generally four, switching to five from 1420 to 1471. From 1471 onwards, the number was fixed at 3. This changed in the 19th century; provisions were made for the appointment of a Fourth Justice and Fifth Justice in 1830 and 1868 respectively. From the start of the 14th century, Justices were appointed via letters patent made under the Great Seal, and held their appointments "under the pleasure of the King". Justices received the same remuneration as judges of the Exchequer of Pleas and Court of King's Bench; £1,000 in 1660, increased to £2,000 in 1759 and £4,000 in 1809. From 1799, pensions were also awarded to retiring Justices.

List of Justices

NameBorn/DiedActive serviceReason for terminationNotes
d. c. 12171190 – 1206Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 12401224 – 1229Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 12501227 – 1236Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 12501229 – 1233Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 12451245Died in office
d. 12601238 – 1241Went on a trip to Ireland and was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas when he returned
d. 12601242 – 1249Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
c. 1209 – 12741240–1260Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
c. 1230 – c. 12801270 – 1274Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 12751271 – 1274Died between sessions
10 April 1271 – 1274
c. 1235 – 18 May 13111273 – 1274Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
d. 25 March 12741273 – 1274Died
1273 – 1276Became a Baron of the Exchequer
d. 12771274 – 1276Became Chancellor of the Exchequer
c. 1230 – January 12981274 – 1278Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 12941275 – 1289Disgraced after failing to prevent Thomas Weyland from altering court documents
1275 – 1278
1276 – 1289Removed for "extortion and other judicial crimes"
1278 – 1281
1278 – 1289Removed and imprisoned in the Tower of London for "corruption in his office".
d. 130714 October 1285 – 1307Died
15 January 1290 – 1294
d. January 129315 January 1290 – January 1293Died
d. 129115 January 1290 – 1291Died
7 February 1292 – 1309Becomes Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 131128 August 1292 – 1308
d. 13088 October 1297 – 24 August 1308Died
1300 – 1316Became a justice of the King's Bench
22 November 1305 – 1306
c. 1260 – November 132720 April 1306 – 28 September 1314Became a Baron of the Exchequer
20 November 1308 – 15 June 1317
5 February 1327 – 28 October 1329
Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
Again appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench
d. 13236 October 1309 – 16 October 1320Retired
6 October 1309 – ?
c. 1260 – May 132223 January 1313 – 1316Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1250 – c. 132329 February 1313 – 16 October 1320
c. 1260 – 132110 March 1316 – 1321Died
c. 1258 – 132920 April 1316 – 1329Died
d. 13315 June 1319 – 15 October 1320
c. 1270 – 13476 August 1320 – 29 January 1327Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
c. 1281 – August 13546 August 1320 – 22 February 1329
1 April 1331 – 7 July 1335
Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
31 May 1321 – 1329
9 July 1323 – 3 May 1324
31 January 1327 – 6 March 1327
Became a Justice of the King's Bench
Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 2 December 134027 September 1323 – 21 March 1324Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1268 – 7 September 13365 February 1327 – 28 October 1329Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1290 – 14 March 13626 March 1328 – 22 December 1330
9 October 1340 – November 1341
20 November 1343 – 1357
Became a Justice of the King's Bench
Arrested for corruption
Retired
2 March 1329 – April 1331Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
d. 133630 December 1329 – 28 January 1332Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 133218 January 1331 – October 1331Retired
d. 133518 January 1331 – October 1334Retired
18 January 1331 – October 1340
d. 5 March 134429 January 1332 – October 1340
16 May 1342 – 5 March 1344

Died
29 January 1332 – October 1340
16 May 1342 – 5 March 1344

Died
1289/90 — 137030 May 1333 – 20 March 1334
14 May 1334 – 1340
1346 – 1350
Became a Justice of the King's Bench
Removed by Edward III
Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
24 September 1334 – 1334Died
1337 – 28 October 1341Died
d. 135618 March 1337 – 8 January 1341
4 June 1432 – 20 February 1354
Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland
Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d.1352/618 March 1337 – 2 May 1339Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 13414 February 1340 – 3 January 1341Died
23 May 1340 – 24 June 1340Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
8 January 1341 – 1342
30 May 1341 – 1354Retired
28 October 1341 – 10 January 1342Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 135925 May 1345 – June 1357
14 January 1348 – 30 March 1354Retired
d. 13696 February 1354 – 1361Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
d. 6 May 13601355 – 6 May 1360Died
4 July 1357 – 1361
11 July 1359 – 1373
c. 1320 – c. 139825 October 1359 – 25 June 1361
8 October 1376 – 1388
Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
Retired
d. 138124 June 1361 – 29 October 1365Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
3 February 1364 – 1365
d. 137429 October 1365 – 14 April 1371Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
29 October 1365 – 1377
d. 7 December 138327 November 1371 – 1380
27 November 1371 – 15 July 1372Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
27 November 1371 – 1388
26 November 1377 – 1380
d. 13836 December 1380 – 1383Died
4 November 1383 – 1388
d. 14184 November 1383 – 1388
11 April 1388 – 15 January 1396Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 140720 May 1389 – 1407Died
d. 27 July 141220 May 1389 – 10 May 1398Retired
20 May 1389 – 1396
d. 31 December 14097 July 1396 – 1408Died
c. 1350 – 12 December 14236 May 1398 – 29 March 1413Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
d. 20 May 14066 May 1398 – 20 May 1406Died
d. 142914 May 1405 – 1429Died
d. 30 August 141417 June 1406 – 30 August 1414Died
d. 142514 May 1408 – 1423
d. 20 December 14202 May 1413 – 26 June 1413Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 9 January 142016 June 1415 – 9 January 1420Died
d. 29 September 143416 June 1415 – 28 January 1428Retired
c. 1370 – 13 October 145430 June 1420 – 5 May 1423Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 24 October 143613 October 1420 – 24 October 1436Died
d. 24 March 14405 May 1423 – 9 February 1436Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
5 May 1423 – 23 January 1424Became a Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1410 – August 14806 February 1426 – 16 March 1443Died
d. 29 October 143915 October 1429 – 20 January 1439Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 14 August 144415 October 1429 – 14 August 1444Died
d. 13 December 14488 November 1438 – 17 September 1439Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 3 May 145729 January 1439 – 3 May 1457Died
d. 30 July 145417 April 1440 – 30 July 1454Died
d. 2 June 14541 July 1443 – 2 June 1454Died
d. 12 March 14669 October 1444 – 12 March 1466Died
d. 2 June 14677 June 1448 – 2 June 1467Died
d. 17 April 146714 August 1450 – 17 April 1467Died
d. 147428 June 1453 – 11 May 1461Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
c. 1405 – 11 December 14799 July 1454 – 11 December 1479Died
9 May 1457 – 17 June 1471Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 5 July 14835 September 1461 – 5 July 1483Died
d. 23 August 148127 April 1466 – 23 August 1481Died
c. 1405 – 3/4 May 14774 November 1467 – 29 April 1475Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 15 June 148617 June 1471 – 15 June 1486Died
d. 23 January 148720 November 1481 – 23 January 1487Died
d. 27 August 148627 June 1483 – 27 August 1486Died
c. 1430 – 9 November 149320 September 1485 – 9 November 1493Died
d. 14 March 148910 December 1486 – 14 March 1489Died
d. 29 July 148731 January 1487 – 29 July 1487Died
d. 17 April 15045 February 1488 – 17 April 1504Died
d. 26 November 150617 October 1489 – 16 October 1506Retired
11 February 1494 – 24 November 1495Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
d. 31 August 150224 November 1495 – 28 October 1500Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
d. 1 May 15103 November 1501 – 1 May 1510Died
d. 11 May 15092 July 1504 – 11 May 1509Died
d. 15 December 151726 April 1508 – 15 December 1517Died
d. 9 March 151321 May 1509 – 9 March 1513Died
— 11 May 151426 June 1510 – 11 May 1514Died
d. 20 May 152226 April 1513 – 20 May 1522Died
d. 21 October 152629 May 1514 – 21 October 1526Died
c. 1451 – 5 November 153023 January 1518 – 23 April 1520Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. May 152929 April 1520 – 24 January 1526Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
c.1470 – 27 May 153820 May 1522 – 27 May 1538Died
d. 28 September 153712 November 1526 – 28 September 1537Died
1478/9 — 4 January 154917 November 1526 – 4 January 1549Died
d. 29 September 15459 October 1537 – 29 September 1545Died
d. 20 November 154230 June 1538 – 20 November 1542Died
d. 5 December 156220 November 1542 – 5 December 1562Died
c.1480 – 17 October 155024 November 1545 – 17 October 1550Died
c.1500 – 4 August 155420 May 1549 – 4 August 1554Died
d. 28 August 155222 October 1550 – 28 August 1552Died
d. 24 August 155316 November 1552 – 24 August 1553Died
4 April 1506 – 12 November 15764 October 1553 – 8 May 1557Became Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench
20 August 1509 – 28 August 15581554 – 28 August 1558Died
1510 – 24 March 15828 May 1557 – 22 January 1559Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
c.1510 – 16 September 157427 October 1558 – 22 January 1559Became Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench
1509/10 — 5 May 156722 January 1559 – 5 May 1567Died
d. 6 July 157216 October 1559 – 6 July 1572Died
, of Cathanger, Fivehead, Somersetd. 12 February 157210 February 1563 – 12 February 1572Died
d. 29 January 157716 May 1567 – 29 January 1577Died
1524/5 — 14 December 159214 October 1572 – 17 November 1578Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
c. 1525 – 24 September 158331 October 1572 – 25 March 1580Retired
d. 26 May 15851 December 1577 – 26 May 1585Died
d. 18 June 159221 June 1579 – 18 June 1592Died
1534 – 9 October 160413 February 1581 – 7 February 1593Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
1524/5 — 17 January 158919 June 1585 – 17 January 1589Died
d. 26 November 161210 May 1589 – 26 November 1612Died
d. 22 April 159825 January 1593 – 22 April 1598Died
d. 21 December 159821 January 1594 – 21 December 1598Died
1542 – 27 July 160030 June 1598 – 27 July 1600Died
d. 20 March 16068 February 1599 – 29 September 1605Retired
c. 1540 – 7 September 162124 November 1600 – 7 September 1621Retired
d. 19 May 16103 February 1604 – 19 May 1610Died
1547 – 12 December 160613 January 1606 – 12 December 1606Died
10 August 1548 – 18 May 161224 November 1607 – 18 May 1612Died
1554/5 — 4 February 16257 November 1611 – 4 February 1625Died
April 1559 – 3 August 161626 November 1612 – 3 August 1616Died
d. 26 February 16393 May 1617 – 26 February 1639Died
1566 – 6 December 164025 September 1621 – 17 October 1624Became a Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1568 – 2 August 163218 October 1624 – 2 August 1632Died
d. 27 September 162520 October 1624 – 27 September 1625Died
c. 1560 – 16 February 164211 February 1625 – 9 October 1628Became a Justice of the King's Bench
29 June 1566 – 24 January 163010 May 1625 – 24 January 1630Died
c. 1566 – March 16452 February 1630 – 10 January 1631Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
c. 1578 – 16 December 16398 May 1631 – 16 December 1639Died
1574/5 — 13 February 165011 October 1632 – 24 November 1645Appointed by the king, Crawley was disabled by Parliament
c. 1589 – 27 March 164724 March 1639 – 27 March 1647Died
1589 – 27 March 164727 January 1640 – 24 November 1645
31 May 1660 – 21 October 1660
Appointed by the king, Foster was disabled by Parliament
Following the English Restoration, Foster was restored to the court before becoming Chief Justice of the King's Bench
1584 – 1 October 16497 October 1645 – 1 October 1649Died
d. 3 August 16481 May 1647 – 3 August 1648Died
d. 165218 October 1648 – 8 February 1649Retired
1591/2 — 24 March 166122 November 1648 – 8 February 1649Retired
c. 1583 – 5 September 165912 June 1649 – 1654Retired
27 March 1588 – 28 February 166612 June 1649 – 1654Retired
1587 – 9 October 166923 October 1649 – January 1660Retired
1 November 1609 – 25 December 167631 January 1653 – May 1659Retired
1602/3 — 27 July 168430 May 1654 – May 1661
22 January 1673 – 27 July 1684
Not reappointed
Died
1598 – 8 February 168211 February 1659 – May 1661
4 November 1663 – 8 February 1682
Not reappointed
Died
1595/6 — 1 May 166531 May 1660 – 19 October 1663Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
1593/4 — 8 March 16727 July 1660 – 8 March 1672Died
c. 1598 – 11 April 16683 November 1660 – 11 April 1668Died
c. 1611 – 11 April 166816 April 1668 – 21 January 1673Became a Justice of the King's Bench
d. 18 February 171025 April 1672 – 17 April 1689Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
July 1609 – 3 December 168018 December 1672 – 4 July 1676
30 April 1679 – 3 December 1680
Removed
Died
c. 1623 – 24 January 169523 October 1676 – 31 May 1678Became Chief Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1638 – 23 February 168115 June 1678 – 29 April 1679Removed
1626/7 — 14 July 16837 February 1680 – 24 April 1680Became a Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1614 – 27 May 169726 April 1680 – 20 April 1686Removed
1627 – 29 January 170112 February 1681 – 9 February 1686Removed
d. 8 March 169629 October 1684 – 1689Not reappointed on the accession of William III and Mary II
1632 – 6 February 168710 February 1686 – 21 April 1686Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
6 September 1634 – 11 June 170921 April 1686 – 1689Not reappointed on the accession of William III and Mary II
1632/3 — 7 September 169624 April 1686 – 13 April 1687
18 March 1689 – 7 September 1696
Became a Justice of the King's Bench
Died
1615 – March 169314 April 1687 – 6 July 1688Removed
1638 – 31 December 17066 July 1688 – 1689Not reappointed on the accession of William III and Mary II
1 March 1625 – 28 May 169618 April 1689 – 8 May 1689Became a Justice of the King's Bench
c. 1631 – 26 November 16998 May 1689 – 25 October 1695Became a Justice of the King's Bench
November 1645 – 6 April 16919 May 1689 – 6 April 1691Died
d. 7 August 170530 October 1691 – 7 August 1705Died
26 May 1645 – 14 June 171326 October 1695 – 23 June 1702Became a Justice of the King's Bench
30 November 1642 – 8 May 172624 November 1697 – 22 June 1722Retired
1655 – 11 September 173523 June 1702 – 26 October 1726Retired
d. 18 September 172611 February 1706 – 18 September 1726Died
d. 22 March 174025 June 1722 – 22 March 1740Died
14 January 1655 – 2 February 173320 October 1726 – 2 February 1733Died
1660/1 — 19 December 17414 November 1726 – 27 September 1727Became a Justice of the King's Bench
23 February 1670 – 10 December 172824 October 1727 – 10 December 1728Died
7 March 1670 – 19 December 174623 January 1729 – 25 June 1746Resigned
1672/3 — 19 January 173715 April 1733 – 26 January 1736Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
c. 1667 – 13 November 17405 February 1736 – 7 July 1738Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
d. 16 December 17497 July 1738 – 5 November 1741Became Master of the Rolls
d. 29 December 178421 April 1740 – 29 November 1742Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
19 February 1694 – 7 January 17535 November 1741 – 7 January 1753Died
1690/1 — 7 January 175310 February 1743 – 19 May 1750Died
d. 12 March 175724 June 1746 – 12 March 1757Died
d. 30 March 175423 June 1750 – 30 March 1754Died
1704 – 18 April 177129 January 1753 – 13 February 1770Retired
20 May 1714 – 6 August 17942 May 1754 – 23 January 1771Became Lord Chancellor
19 March 1695 – 8 December 17623 May 1757 – 8 December 1762Died
1710 – 5 March 179415 December 1762 – 5 March 1794Died
1722 – 7 June 177016 February 1770 – 7 June 1770Died
10 July 1723 – 14 February 178025 June 1770 – 14 February 1780Died
1716 – 20 July 178626 January 1771 – 20 July 1786Died
1736 – 16 January 18167 July 1780 – 16 January 1816Died
6 August 1741 – 18 October 17936 November 1786 – 18 October 1793Died
3 June 1743 – 7 March 18087 November 1793 – 7 March 1808Died
1751 – 8 July 18147 March 1794 – 18 June 1794
31 March 1808 – 28 May 1812
Became a Justice of the King's Bench
Retired
17 March 1746 – 4 June 180018 June 1794 – 4 June 1800Died
4 October 1739 – 20 September 182311 June 1800 – 11 January 1816Retired
27 October 1751 – 8 February 182029 May 1812 – 6 November 1813Became Chief Baron of the Exchequer
16 October 1756 – 25 December 182418 November 1813 – 4 November 1818Became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
6 April 1763 – 8 December 183823 January 1816 – 8 December 1838Died
7 October 1762 – 4 November 183212 February 1816 – 2 May 1816Became a Justice of the King's Bench
August 1749 – 25 March 18374 May 1816 – 16 January 1830Retired
3 March 1771 – 19 March 184130 November 1818 – 18 June 1824Retired
d. 26 March 18395 July 1824 – 22 February 1837Retired
2 May 1773 – 25 September 18471 February 1830 – 16 January 1830Retired
d. 27 January 18571 November 1830 – 29 April 1834Became a Baron of the Exchequer
11 February 1769 – 25 September 183929 April 1834 – 25 September 1839Died
d. 11 July 184923 February 1837 – 11 July 1849Died
12 March 1788 – 9 November 18649 January 1839 – 4 November 1844Retired
25 April 1788 – 16 January 185811 November 1839 – 3 July 1855Retired
20 August 1793 – 29 July 186326 January 1842 – 11 January 1858Became a judge of the newly—created Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes
1 October 1793 – 28 January 18806 November 1844 – 27 October 1846Became a justice of the Queen's Bench
1797 – 2 November 187527 October 1846 – 7 February 1865Retired
26 May 1795 – 13 March 185428 July 1849 – 13 March 1854Died
17 May 1796 — 5 December 185924 March 1854 – 5 December 1859Died
13 February 1814 – 2 October 18723 July 1855 – 2 October 1872Died
11 January 1801 – 3 February 18849 January 1858 – 23 January 1873Retired
13 January 1804 – 1 October 188814 December 1859 – 5 February 1875Retired
25 December 1806 – 3 May 18917 February 1865 – 3 November 1871Became a member of the Privy Council
13 August 1815 – 5 December 185924 August 1868 – 1 November 1875Became a judge of the High Court of Justice
21 June 1817 – 27 October 18867 November 1871 – 22 November 1871Became a member of the Privy Council
11 July 1811 – 1 August 189630 November 1871 – 1 November 1875Became a judge of the High Court of Justice
23 December 1819 – 21 December 189617 October 1872 – 1 November 1875Became a judge of the High Court of Justice
22 January 1819 – 16 September 187523 January 1873 – 18 February 1875Retired
1817 – 18 October 18766 February 1875 – 1 November 1875Became a judge of the High Court of Justice
8 September 1815 – 5 December 189022 February 1875 – 12 May 1875Became a Baron of the Exchequer
29 November 1828 – 9 December 192112 May 1875 – 1 November 1875Became a judge of the High Court of Justice