John of Mettingham
Encyclopedia
John of Mettingham was a British justice. He served as a law clerk for Gilbert of Preston
starting in 1265. After Preston's death Mettingham was appointed as a justice for the newly formed Assize Court in 1274. In 1278 a pair of permanent Eyre
circuits were formed, and Preston was assigned to the northern one, sitting as a junior justice on every eyre on that circuit until 1288 and as Chief Justice for the Dorset
sitting in 1288. Mettingham seems to have specialised in Quo warranto
cases, but also heard ordinary civil litigation cases in at least five Counties
. In 1290 he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
, a position he held until his death.
Gilbert of Preston
Sir Gilbert of Preston was a British justice. He was the son of Walter of Preston, who was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire between 1206 and 1208...
starting in 1265. After Preston's death Mettingham was appointed as a justice for the newly formed Assize Court in 1274. In 1278 a pair of permanent Eyre
Eyre (legal term)
An Eyre or Iter was the name of a circuit traveled by an itinerant justice in medieval England, or the circuit court he presided over , or the right of the king to visit and inspect the holdings of any vassal...
circuits were formed, and Preston was assigned to the northern one, sitting as a junior justice on every eyre on that circuit until 1288 and as Chief Justice for the Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
sitting in 1288. Mettingham seems to have specialised in Quo warranto
Quo warranto
Quo warranto is a prerogative writ requiring the person to whom it is directed to show what authority they have for exercising some right or power they claim to hold.-History:...
cases, but also heard ordinary civil litigation cases in at least five Counties
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
. In 1290 he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, also known as the Common Bench or Common Place, was the second highest common law court in the English legal system until 1880, when it was dissolved. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord...
, a position he held until his death.