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Simple English definitions for legal terms
hallmote
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A quick definition of hallmote:
A hallmote is a type of court that was held in the great hall of a manor. It was presided over by the lord of the manor and was used to settle disputes between feudal tenants. It could also be used as a commercial court for trade-guilds or as a convention of citizens in their public hall. Sometimes it is mistakenly referred to as an ecclesiastical court, but this is not correct.
A more thorough explanation:
Hallmote (pronounced hahl-moht) is a term used to describe several different types of courts or meetings:
- Court Baron: A court presided over by the lord of a manor to settle disputes between feudal tenants. It was usually held in the manor's great hall.
- Trade-guild court: A commercial court where guild members were tried for trade-related offenses against the guild.
- Public hall meeting: A convention of citizens in their public hall. This is also known as a folkmote.
- Ecclesiastical court: This is an erroneous definition that appears in many secular legal dictionaries. It refers to an ecclesiastical court, but this is unheard of in canon law.
Examples:
- A lord of a manor holds a hallmote to settle a dispute between two tenants over land ownership.
- A trade-guild holds a hallmote to try a member for breaking the guild's rules on pricing.
- A town council holds a hallmote in their public hall to discuss local issues and make decisions.
These examples illustrate the different types of hallmotes that can occur, from settling disputes between tenants to discussing local issues in a public hall.