Legal Definitions - official principal

Definition: An official principal is a person who is appointed by an archbishop, bishop, or archdeacon to preside over an ecclesiastical court and exercise jurisdiction. This term is usually capitalized and is often shortened to "official."

Example: The Official Principal of the Diocese of New York presided over the hearing regarding the dispute between the two priests.

Explanation: In this example, the Official Principal is a person who has been appointed by the bishop of the Diocese of New York to preside over an ecclesiastical court. The Official Principal has the authority to exercise jurisdiction and make decisions regarding disputes between priests in the diocese.

Example: The Official Principal of the Archdiocese of Canterbury is responsible for overseeing the administration of justice in the ecclesiastical courts of the archdiocese.

Explanation: In this example, the Official Principal is a person who has been appointed by the archbishop of Canterbury to oversee the administration of justice in the ecclesiastical courts of the archdiocese. The Official Principal has the authority to preside over court hearings and make decisions regarding matters of church law.