Court of Great Sessions

The Court of Great Sessions was the supreme court of Wales, established in 1543. It was modeled on the practices of North Wales's principality courts and operated with 12 counties divided into four judicial circuits. This court system remained in place until 1830, when it was abolished despite opposition. Following its abolition, the administration of law in Wales was vested in justices of the peace, similar to England's system of quarter sessions. Unlike Scotland, Wales does not have a separate justice system; criminal and civil cases are heard by magistrates' courts and the Crown Court. The concept of Welsh law, distinct from English common law, was largely superseded by the Acts of Union in the 16th century, which aimed to unify the legal and administrative systems of Wales with England.12