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

In the assizes and quarter sessions were removed hence to Lampeter, which has a more central position in the county.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various

The boroughs of Bristol, Gloucester and Tewkesbury have separate commissions of the peace and courts of quarter sessions.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various

Another would hand him over to the next justice of the peace,—would leave him to quarter sessions; but not so Val Repton.

From The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. I (of II) by Lever, Charles James