THE MONTHLY COURT
In 1623, the Governor and Council ordered that courts of
record be kept monthly in each corporate unit of the colony,
and that the commanders of these places, and such others as the
Governor and Council might appoint should be the Judges, with
reservation of appeal after sentence to the Governor and Council.
"The commanders were to be of the quorum and sentence was to
be given by the major parties." (Hening, Vol. I.) The quorum
consisted of a select number of justices of the peace, chosen for
their superior knowledge and discretion, one or two of whom had
to be included in the number of justices necessary to constitute
a court. The commissioners of the Monthly Court had jurisdiction
over all civil cases not involving more than ten pounds, and one
member of the Council had to sit with such commissioner at all
hearings.
