What is "court of session"

Session \Ses"sion\, n. [L. sessio, fr. sedere, sessum, to sit: cf. F. session. See Sit.]

1. The act of sitting, or the state of being seated.

   So much his ascension into heaven and his session at the right hand of God do import.
   --Hooker.

   But Viven, gathering somewhat of his mood, . . . Leaped from her session on his lap, and stood.
   --Tennyson.

2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, etc., or the actual assembly of the members of such a body, for the transaction of business.

   It's fit this royal session do proceed.
   --Shak.

3. Hence, also, the time, period, or term during which a court, council, legislature, etc., meets daily for business; or, the space of time between the first meeting and the prorogation or adjournment; thus, a session of Parliaments is opened with a speech from the throne, and closed by prorogation. The session of a judicial court is called a term.

   It was resolved that the convocation should meet at the beginning of the next session of Parliament.
   --Macaulay.

   Note: Sessions, in some of the States, is particularly used as a title for a court of justices, held for granting licenses to innkeepers, etc., and for laying out highways, and the like; it is also the title of several courts of criminal jurisdiction in England and the United States.

   Church session, the lowest court in the Presbyterian Church, composed of the pastor and a body of elders elected by the members of a particular church, and having the care of matters pertaining to the religious interests of that church, as the admission and dismission of members, discipline, etc.

   Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland.

   Quarter sessions. (Eng.Law) See under Quarter.

   Sessions of the peace, sittings held by justices of the peace. [Eng.]

The Court of Session (; ) is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a trial court and a court of appeal. The Court of Session has coextensive jurisdiction with the Sheriff Court—the other Scottish civil court, which sits locally—and the pursuer is given first choice of what court to use. However, the majority of complex, important, or high value cases are brought in the Court of Session. Legal aid, administered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, is available to persons with little disposable income for cases in the Court of Session.

The court is a unitary collegiate court, with all judges other than the Lord President and the Lord Justice Clerk holding the same rank and title— Senator of the College of Justice and also Lord or Lady of Council and Session. There are thirty-four judges, in addition to a number of temporary judges; these temporary judges are typically sheriffs, or advocates in private practice. The judges sit also in the High Court of Justiciary, where the Lord President is called the Lord Justice General.

The court was divided in 1810 into an outer and inner house. The former serves as the court of first instance; the latter is superior, and stands as an appeal court for civil cases as well as a court of first instance. Cases in the outer house are heard by Lords Ordinary who sit alone, though there may occasionally also be a jury of twelve. Cases in the inner house are heard by three Lords of Council and Session, but significant or complicated cases may be heard by five or more judges.

A court of sessions is the name of a type of court in a number of countries which derive their legal system largely from English law. The name is, however, not of English, but Scottish origin. As many Scots were a part of the British colonial emigration, the name of this institution was familiar to them, and in various circumstances, it was adopted, at least nominally.

Following is a list of courts of sessions:

• Court of Session the Supreme Civil court of Scotland
• Court of Session (Pakistan), the main Criminal Court of Pakistan
• Court of Sessions (California)
• Sessions Court (India and Malaysia)

The Court of Session is the primary court of first instance in criminal cases in Pakistan, and most serious criminal cases are tried in it. The court also has limited civil and appellate jurisdiction.