Justices of the Peace have been a focus of local justice for many centuries
A new type of local court dealing with civil matters was developed through legislation from the mid-18th century
People convicted of more serious crimes were put on trial at the local assize courts
The higher courts based at Westminster Hall were concerned with complex non-criminal cases
During the mid-19th century a series of major reforms were undertaken in the lower courts
By the 1870s much pressure for the reform of the higher courts was coming from business and industry
Important changes were made to the administration of magistrates€™ courts during the mid 20th century
During the later 20th century the judicial system underwent a further instalment of radical change
Current parliamentary business on the topic of courts
Trace the chief pieces of legislation through which Parliament has modernised courts of law