The
courts of assize, or
assizes , were periodic courts held around
England and Wales until 1972, when together with the
quarter sessions they were abolished by the
Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent
Crown Court. The assizes exercised both
civil and
criminal jurisdiction, though most of their work was on the criminal side. The assizes heard the most serious cases, which were committed to it by the quarter sessions (local county courts held four times per year), while the more minor offences were dealt with summarily by
justices of the peace in petty sessions (also known as
magistrates' courts).