Catalogue description Chancery and Lord Chancellor's Office: Crown Office: Fiats for Justices of the Peace

Fiats for commissions of the peace were sent to the Crown Office in Chancery by the secretary of commissions on behalf of the lord chancellor. A list of names to be added to or subtracted from the names already in the commission was drawn up outside the chancellor's view in a variety of places, both locally and at the centre of government. At the chancellor's office, the lists were checked by the secretary of commissions and the elegibility of those persons recommended was determined.

The secretary reported to the chancellor, made any changes that were required, and then wrote a fiat, which the lord chancellor signed, ordering the clerk of the Crown to draw up a new commission of the peace for the county, borough or liberty concerned.

This procedure remained the same until the twentieth century; it was given statutory force by the Crown Office Act 1877. Under the Administration of Justice Act 1973, the appointment of justices of the peace no longer required a fiat from the lord chancellor, and accordingly there are no more after that year.