History Court of Requests

the old palace of westminster showing court of requests met

the court followed monarch on trips around england, visiting sheen, langley , woodstock in 1494. under thomas wolsey court became fixed in westminster, hearing cases poor people , servants of king. met @ white hall of palace of westminster , called court of white hall. towards end of henry viii s reign, court took on professional attitude appointment of 2 professional masters of requests ordinary act judges, rather lord privy seal case. additional 2 masters of requests extraordinary appointed under elizabeth allow 2 judges accompany on travels around england. under james of england, 2 more ordinary masters appointed, despite court became criticised rising backlog due increasing business.

when court formally became independent body in 16th century, free of privy council control, became vulnerable attack common-law courts, asserted had no formal jurisdiction , court of chancery appropriate equitable body cases. technically true court, no longer part of privy council, not claim jurisdiction based on tradition, in 1597 sir julius caesar (then master of requests ordinary) gave examples of times when common law courts had recognised court of requests jurisdiction 1585. common law courts change of heart undoubtedly due large amount of business deserting them court of requests, , in 1590 went on offensive; writs of habeas corpus issued people imprisoned contempt of court in requests, judgments issued in cases court of requests dealing , decided jailing individual based on writ court of requests constituted false imprisonment. academics accept court never recovered these blows, , when english civil war made privy seal inoperative, court died natural death . post of master of requests abolished in 1685.