Catalogue description Assizes: Oxford Circuit: Pleadings

The documents in this Oxford Circuit series consist of parchment records of nisi prius for the period 1850 to 1875, and paper pleadings used to enter trial as directed by the Judicature Acts for the period 1875 to 1890. There are also some interpleadings which were used to grant relief in case of adverse claims on the same subject matter made upon persons claiming no interest therein. Some paper documents of 1875 to 1890 are entitled 'record'; these appear to be cases withdrawn before trial.

All these documents, whether before or after 1875, give the name of the court in which the action originated (after 1875 the name of the division of the High Court and/or district registry) and a full transcript of the pleadings. They are annotated with details of the mode of trial, the verdict, the date it was given, whether tried by special jury, damages awarded (if any), and notes relevant to the award of costs. Parchment records of nisi prius are annotated with the name of the attorney, usually the attorney for the plaintiff, who drew them up. Pleadings and other documents post 1875 include the names and addresses of attorneys for both parties and also of their London agents, if any.

They are sometimes accompanied by other documents: notices of trial; copies of rules of court; correspondence about process; more detailed statements of damages claimed. Those that were set for trial by jury are accompanied by jury panels; those that were to be tried by special jury are accompanied by both special and common jury panels.