CRM 1301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Precedent, Assizes, Seeking Justice

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Criminology
• Course: CRM 1301
• Professor: Carolyn Gordon

Document Summary

Princes held absolute power within own borders. William of normandy won battle over king harold. William gave all of his main supporters land and power. The power to rule land freely, with no laws or legally-organized direct opposition in force. Local autonomy taken away in exchange for peace and safety. Re-defined private wrongs as crimes against the state. Henry ii streamlined procedures and made them fairer. Circuit judges replaced informal methods of seeking justice based on local practices. Stare decisis deciding cases on the basis of situations of similar facts. If you question the king, you are also questioning god. They would have to walk a certain distance with a burning iron, or walk on burning coal. They would then get bandaged up and go home for 3 days. The priest would check on them and if they healed nicely, they were innocent. If their wounds were infected, they were guilty. The person would be thrown in water.