Legal Definitions - franchise court

A franchise court is a type of court that was historically privately held and existed by virtue of a royal grant. These courts had jurisdiction over a variety of matters, depending on the grant and whatever powers the court acquired over time.

For example, in 1274, Edward I abolished many of these feudal courts by forcing the nobility to demonstrate by what authority (quo warranto) they held court. If a lord could not produce a charter reflecting the franchise, the court was abolished.

Franchise courts were often held by feudal lords and were sometimes based on old pre-Conquest grants. However, many of them were wrongful usurpations of private jurisdiction by powerful lords. These were put down after the famous Quo Warranto enquiry in the reign of Edward I.

Overall, franchise courts were a way for feudal lords to dispense justice and make a profit from fees, dues, fines, and amercements.