COURT, in a legal sense, is defined as a place in which justice is judicially administered. And as by our constitution the sole executive power of the laws is vested in the person of the king, it follows that all courts of justice, which are the medium by which he administers the laws, are derived from the power of the crown. For whether created by act of parliament or by letters patent, or subsisting by prescription (the only methods by which any court of judicature can exist), the king's consent in the two former is given expressly, and in the latter by implication. In all these courts the king is supposed, in contemplation of law, to be always present; but as that is in fact impossible, he is there represented by his judges, whose power is only an emanation of the royal prerogative.
For the more speedy, universal, and impartial administration of justice between subject and subject, the law has appointed a variety of courts, some with a more limited, others with a more extensive jurisdiction; some constituted to inquire only, others to hear and determine; some to determine in the first instance, others upon appeal and by way of review.
COURT of ARCHES (Curia de Arcubus), the chief and most ancient consistory court belonging to the archiepiscopal see of Canterbury, for the debating of spiritual causes. It is so called from the church of St Mary le Bow (de arcubus), where it was formerly held. The judge of this court, styled the Dean of the Arches, or the Official of the Arches Court, has jurisdiction in all ecclesiastical causes except such as belong to the prerogative court; and all manner of appeals from bishops or their chancellors or commissaries, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and others, are directed thereto. The dean of the arches has also a peculiar jurisdiction over thirteen parishes in London, called a deanery, which are exempt from the authority of the Bishop of London, and of which the parish of Bow (de arcubus) is the principal. The persons concerned in this court are, the judge, advocates, registrars, proctors, &c. An appeal formerly lay from this court to the king in chancery, but it now lies to the judicial committee of the privy council, as regulated by the act of 1843, 6th and 7th Vict., cap. 38.