BARON

A Court Baron, so called either from the loi I or I) iron who presided over it, or from the free i iii-'i, in ancient times also called barons, who were its suitors and judge*, was a court having its origin apparently in n. 'lions of a patriarchal jurisdiction, properly and in Ihe first in-tance incident to every manor, in which it was held by the lord of the manor or his steward, who. a isted by Ihe freeholders of the manor, there decided on the purely civil controversies which arose between them. A court baron also belonged to every hundred and county (see '.hose titles): and in many cases also to particular franchises or lordships, which might include several manors. Courts baron, from the inferiority of their judges, and from Sects of their jurisdiction, which a party might defeat by removal of the cause to ahighei tribunal, nave long fallen into disuse; except in minors of ancient demesne, where the jurisdiction was, and in some respects still is, in the first instance exclusive, the lord of such manors having once been the king; and except in manors containing land of copyhold or customary tenure. See Copyhold. COURT- [s. 311]