Legal Definitions - certificate of assize

Definition: A certificate of assize was a legal document in England that granted a retrial. It was used when a person believed they did not receive a fair trial the first time around. However, this certificate has been replaced by a court order that grants a new trial.

Example: John was convicted of a crime he did not commit. He believed that the jury was biased against him, so he requested a certificate of assize. The certificate granted him a retrial, and he was found not guilty.

Explanation: In this example, John used a certificate of assize to request a retrial because he believed he did not receive a fair trial the first time around. The certificate allowed him to have a second chance to prove his innocence.

Example: Nowadays, instead of a certificate of assize, a court order is used to grant a new trial. For example, if new evidence is discovered that could change the outcome of a trial, a court order can be used to grant a new trial.

Explanation: This example shows how a court order has replaced the certificate of assize. If new evidence is discovered that could change the outcome of a trial, a court order can be used to grant a new trial instead of a certificate of assize.