Court Of Assizes

• Mauritius has a hybrid legal system comprising both English and French law. Mauritius' modern legal system is based on British common law, owing to its history as a British colony from 1810 until achieving independence in 1968.
• As a former colony, Mauritius likely had a court of assizes during the British colonial period, modeled on the British criminal court by the same name. These typically deal with serious criminal cases like murder and rape. After independence, Mauritius established a Supreme Court currently serving as its highest judicial body.
• The Supreme Court has functions similar to the old British assizes courts, such as hearing criminal cases related to murder, piracy, and treason. Lower District and Intermediate Courts in Mauritius also handle fewer civil and criminal cases locally. Appeals from these lower courts can be made to the Supreme Court. Like in Britain, capital punishment in Mauritius was originally handled by the highest courts like the Supreme Court, and its predecessor assizes courts during colonial rule. However, the death penalty was abolished in Mauritius in 1995.
• The Supreme Court has functions similar to the old British assizes courts, such as hearing criminal cases related to murder, piracy, and treason. Lower District and Intermediate Courts in Mauritius also handle fewer civil and criminal cases locally. Appeals from these lower courts can be made to the Supreme Court. Like in Britain, capital punishment in Mauritius was originally handled by the highest courts like the Supreme Court, and its predecessor assizes courts during colonial rule. However, the death penalty was abolished in Mauritius in 1995.
• Court of Assizes


  Plays a significant role in the judicial system of Mauritius, particularly in handling serious criminal cases
• The criminal side of the Supreme Court in Mauritius has borne the style of "Court of Assizes" since 1850
• Court of Assizes

  • Presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court
  • Responsible for judging the most serious offenses
• No jury is used for civil cases in Mauritius
• The Assizes are conducted with a jury
• Court of Assizes in Mauritius


  Primarily focuses on adjudicating serious criminal offenses and is an integral part of the country's judicial system
• Court of Assizes in Mauritius

  Specialized court for handling the most serious offenses within the Mauritian judicial system
• Established


  1850
• Court of Assizes

  • Operates as part of the Supreme Court
  • Presides over cases requiring a judge's attention from the highest level of the judiciary
• This arrangement ensures that these critical cases are handled fairly and equitably, providing due process and safeguarding the rights of individuals
• The presence of the Court of Assizes reinforces the principle of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, thereby strengthening the overall integrity of the Mauritian legal system
• The Court of Assizes was a type of criminal court in England and other common law jurisdictions, typically presided over by a judge and jury. The Court of Assizes originated in medieval England to deal with more serious criminal cases that could result in severe punishments. The name comes from the periodic "assizes" or meetings these judges would hold in various parts of the country.
• The Court had jurisdiction over felonies such as murder, rape, arson, robbery, and other serious offenses against persons and property. Lower magistrates' courts handled lesser offenses. Court of Assizes was ruled over by judges and empowered by the monarch - originally they would "ride circuit" through the counties under their jurisdiction. The jury was composed of male property owners from the locality.
• The court used the unique "nisi prius" procedure (nisi prius.: (nee-see pree-us) adj. In some jurisdictions, Latin for "unless first" means the original trial court which heard a case as distinguished from a court of appeals, as in court nisi prius. "Court of original jurisdiction" is often substituted for the term nisi prius). Jury members were considered witnesses to events in their communities. The first phase dealt with evidence and testimony, and the second with verdict and sentencing.
• The court used the unique "nisi prius" procedure (nisi prius.: (nee-see pree-us) adj. In some jurisdictions, Latin for "unless first" means the original trial court which heard a case as distinguished from a court of appeals, as in court nisi prius. "Court of original jurisdiction" is often substituted for the term nisi prius). Jury members were considered witnesses to events in their communities. The first phase dealt with evidence and testimony, and the second with verdict and sentencing.
• The Court of Assizes originally used quite brutal punishments, including capital punishment. Over time they modernized along with the justice system, using imprisonment more. However, the Court gradually faded in importance with the establishment of permanent higher-level criminal courts. Today most of their functions have been taken over by Crown Courts in common law legal systems.
• Court of Assizes


  Periodic court system held in the main county towns and presided over by visiting judges from the higher courts
• Court of Assizes

  • Exercised both civil and criminal jurisdiction, with a focus on serious criminal cases, including those subjected to capital punishment or life imprisonment
  • Played a crucial role in the development of the judicial system, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages
  • The term "assize" originally signified the method of trial by jury, and over time, the courts of assize became associated with the most severe crimes
• The assizes were abolished in England and Wales


  1972
• The Court of Assizes played a significant role in the judicial system of England and Wales until 1972
• The assizes were abolished in England and Wales in 1972, marking the end of their long-standing historical significance
• In Mauritius, the legal framework of the Court of Assizes is based on the British adversarial system and comprises a single-structured judicial system made up of the Supreme Court. Since 1850, the criminal side of the Supreme Court has borne the style of "Court of Assizes," which is responsible for judging the most serious offenses. The Court of Assizes is presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court and is held in February, June, and October of each year.
• In Mauritius, the legal framework of the Court of Assizes is based on the British adversarial system and comprises a single-structured judicial system made up of the Supreme Court. Since 1850, the criminal side of the Supreme Court has borne the style of "Court of Assizes," which is responsible for judging the most serious offenses. The Court of Assizes is presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court and is held in February, June, and October of each year.
• Court of Assizes

  Periodic court system held in the main county towns and presided over by visiting judges from the higher courts
• Court of Assizes

  • Exercised both civil and criminal jurisdiction, with a focus on serious criminal cases, including those subjected to capital punishment or life imprisonment
  • Played a crucial role in the development of the judicial system, with its origins dating back to the Middle Ages
  • The term "assize" originally signified the method of trial by jury, and over time, the courts of assize became associated with the most severe crimes
• The assizes were abolished in England and Wales

  1972
• Court of Assizes

  Part of the exceptional courts in Mauritius
• The Court of Assizes played a significant role in the judicial system of England and Wales until 1972</b>
• The assizes were abolished in England and Wales in 1972, marking the end of their long-standing historical significance
• Exceptional courts in Mauritius

  • Court of Assizes
  • Industrial Court
  • Profiteering Court
• Legal framework of the Court of Assizes in Mauritius

  • Ensures serious criminal cases are handled fairly and equitably
  • Provides due process
  • Safeguards the rights of individuals
• Court of Assizes

  • Reinforces the principle of separation of powers
  • Reinforces the independence of the judiciary
  • Strengthens the overall integrity of the Mauritian legal system
• Court of Assizes

  Presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court
• The Court of Assizes is held in February, June, and October of each year
• Overall, the legal framework of the Court of Assizes reflected its primary purpose—handling serious criminal cases through a combination of traveling judges and locally elected or appointed officials, depending on the region.
• The Supreme Court is the highest in Mauritius and has primary jurisdiction over serious criminal cases. The Supreme Court has distinct divisions and one of them is the Criminal Division, which has jurisdiction over cases such as high-level drug trafficking, murder, manslaughter, terrorism offenses, armed robbery, kidnapping, serious sexual offenses, and so on, necessitating a trial by jury according to section 10 of the Criminal Procedure Act. This Criminal Division of the Supreme Court is referred to as the Court of Assizes.