Legal Definitions - Palmer's Act

Palmer's Act is a law that was passed in England in 1856. It gives a person who is accused of a crime that is not under the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court the right to have their case tried in that court. The Central Criminal Court is also known as the Old Bailey and has the power to try all serious crimes committed in London.

If someone is accused of a serious crime like murder in a town outside of London, they can use Palmer's Act to have their case tried in the Central Criminal Court in London. This is because the Central Criminal Court has more resources and is better equipped to handle serious criminal cases.

Another example is if someone is accused of a crime that is not considered serious enough to be tried in the Central Criminal Court, they would not be able to use Palmer's Act to have their case moved there.

These examples illustrate how Palmer's Act works and how it can be used to ensure that a person accused of a serious crime receives a fair trial in a court that is equipped to handle their case.