admiralty (admiralti)

[Early mod. E. admiral tie, amiraltye, amraltie, fenses. The power [of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States) extends to all cases of admiralty and Calhoun , Works, I. 213. marine jurisdiction. Admiralty court, or court of admiralty, a tribunal having jurisdiction over maritime causes, whether of a civil or criminal nature. In England it was formerly held before the lord high admiral, and afterward before his deputy or the deputy of the lords commi ioners; but now it admiralty vision of the High Court of Justice, the judge in it being appointed by the crown as one of the judges of the High The English court of admiralty twofold, the stance court and the prize court. The civil jurisdiction of the instance court extends generally to such contracts as are made upon the sea, and are founded in maritime service or consideration. It also regulates many other points of maritime law, as disputes between part-owners of ve els, and questions relating to salvage. It has likewise power to inquire into certain wrongs or injuries committed on the high seas, as in cases of collision. In criminal matters the court of admiralty has, partly by common law IMG:content-0275.png:[blocks in formation] II. in trans . 1. To wonder; be affected with and all other indictable offenses committed either upon the sea or on the coasts when beyond the limits of any English county. The prize court is the only tribunal for deciding what is and what is not lawful prize, and for adjudicating upon all matters, civil and criminal, relating to prize, or every acquisition made by the law of war which is either itself of a maritime character or is made, whether at sea or by land, by a naval force. In Scotland the cases formerly brought before this court, which has been abolish ed, are now prosecuted in the Court of Se ion or in the sheriff court, in the same way as ordinary civil causes. In the United States the admiralty powers are exclusively vested in the federal courts. They extend over the great lakes and navigable rivers. - Droits of admiralty. See droit. High Court of Admiralty, an ancient English court, held before the lord high admiral of England or his deputy (styled judge of the admiralty), with cognizance of all crimes and offenses committed either upon the sea or upon the coasts, out of the body or extent of any English county. It proceeded without jury, a method contrary to the genius of the law of England. Stephen.