quarter sessions

American  

noun

Law.

1. an English court of general criminal jurisdiction for crimes less than homicide, held quarterly.

2. (in the U.S.) a court with limited criminal jurisdiction, having local administrative powers in some states.

---

quarter sessions British  

noun

1. (in England and Wales, formerly) a criminal court held four times a year before justices of the peace or a recorder, empowered to try all but the most serious offences and to hear appeals from petty sessions. Replaced in 1972 by crown courts See also crown court Compare assizes

2. (in Scotland, formerly) a court held by justices of the peace four times a year, empowered to hear appeals from justice of the peace courts and to deal with some licensing matters: abolished in 1975

---

Etymology

Origin of quarter sessions

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

At UCLA, the master’s of social welfare — which runs for eight quarter sessions — amounts to more than $65,000 for California residents without financial aid.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

In Bury St. Edmunds, England, when only eleven jurors filed out. of the box at West Suffolk quarter sessions court, Judge Gerald Howard took another look, spotted the twelfth juror sound asleep.

From Time Magazine Archive

It has one court of quarter sessions, and is divided into five petty sessional divisions.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 8 "Hudson River" to "Hurstmonceaux" by Various

I am deeply interested about the Danubian Provinces, and strong on Sebastopol; but I regard as contemptible the cares of a quarter sessions, or the business of the "Union."

From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II by Lever, Charles James

The administration of justice was performed from 1838 to 1884 by a court of quarter sessions, with a recorder, and a court of petty sessions.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various