SERGEANT, or SERJEANT at law, or of the coif, is the highest degree taken at the common law, as that of doctor is of the civil law; and as these are supposed to be most learned and experienced in the practice of the courts, there is one court appointed for them to plead in by themselves, which is the common-pleas, where the common law of England is most strictly observed; but they are not restrained from pleading in any other court, where the judges, who cannot have that honour till they have taken the degree of serjeant at law, call them brothers.