BENCH

A seat of judgment or trlbunal for the administration of justice; the seat occupied by judges in courts; also the court itself, as the "King's Bench," or the aggregate of the judges composing a court, as in the phrase "before the full bench." The collective body of the judges in a state or nation, as distinguished from the body of attorneys and advocates, who are called the "bar." In English ecclesiastical law. The aggregate body of bishops. -Bench warrant. Proce i ued by the court it;self, or "from the bench," for the attach• ment or arrest of a ~rson; either in case of contempt, or where an indictment has been found, or to bring• in a witne who does not obey the eubprena. So called to distinguish it from a warrant, i ued by a justice of the ~ace, alderman, or commi ioner.-Benchers. In English law. Seniors in the inns of court, usu• ally, i)ut not nece arily, queen's counsel, elected by co-optation, and having the entire management of the pro~rty of their respective in1111. [s. 132]