Coroners Court

Later developments of the Coroners Court

The Magna Carta in 1215 clarified the role, stating: “No sheriff, constable, coroner or bailiff shall hold pleas of our Crown.” “Keeping the pleas” was an administrative task, while “holding the pleas” was a judicial one that was not assigned to the locally resident coroner but left to judges who traveled around the country holding Assize Courts. Later on, the role of custos rotulorum or keeper of the county records became an independent office. After 1836 this position was held by the Lord Lieutenant of each county. Anyone finding a body from a death thought to have occured in a sudden or unnatural way was required to raise the “hue and cry” and to notify the coroner. Following the military conquest by Edward I of England in 1282, coroners were introduced into Wales.

The Jurisdiction of the Coroner

Should someone become aware of a dead body lying in the district of a coroner they have a legal duty to report it to the coroner; failure to report the death is an offence. A team of Coroner’s Officers carry out the investigation on belalf of the coroner. These officers may be from a nursing or paramedic background, or historically may have been ex-police officers.

Depending on what that investigation finds, the coroner would then decide on whether an inquest is appropriate. If a person dies in in police cells, or in prison, a coroners court inquest must then be held. Usually, in England, inquests are heard without a jury (unless the coroner wishes to have one). On the other hand, in the case which a person has died under the control of central authority the inquest must have a jury, as a check on the possible abuse of governmental power. Just as in other courts of law, in a coroners court the coroner may summon witnesses, and people found lying are guilty of perjury. The  jurisdiction of the coroner is limited to:

• determining who the deceased was
• how, when and where they came by their death

When it is suspected that the death has been sudden with unknown cause, violent, or unnatural, the coroner decides whether to hold a post-mortem examination and, if necessary, an inquest.

When becoming involved with the legal proceedings of the coroners court it is advisable to have access to qualified legal representation. You may be in the position where someone close to you has died and their death has been reported to the coroner. Alternatively, you could be a professional involved in a coroner’s investigation requiring advice or representation. In either circumstance, we have considerable experience of the coroners court process and our inquest barristers can help.

Coroners Inquest Barristers

Our mission is to provide families and professionals involved in a coroner’s investigation with specialist advice and representation. Coroners Inquest Barristers also ensure that our clients have confidence in the service we provide. We treat our clients with compassion and empathy.

If you require assistance with a coroners inquest, please contact us.