commissary-court

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In Scots law: A supreme court established in Edinburgh in the sixteenth century, to which were transferred the duties formerly discharged by the bishops' commissaries. It had jurisdiction in actions of divorce, declarator of marriage, nullity of marriage, and the like. Its powers having come gradually to be conjoined with those of the Court of Session, it was abolished in 1836. Also called consistorial court.
2. n. A sheriff's or county court which decrees and confirms executors to deceased persons leaving personal property in Scotland, and discharges relative incidental functions. The sheriff, as judge of this court, in certain actions has the title of commissary, the county over which the court has jurisdiction being his commissariat.