A covering for the head, commonly used by kings; figuratively, it signifies royal authority. By pleas of the crown, are understood criminal actions.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
The sovereign power in a monarchy, especially in relation to the punishment of crimes. “Felony is an offense of the crown.” Finch, Law, b. 1, c. 16. An ornamental badge of regal power worn on the head by sovereign princes. The word is frequently used when speaking of the sovereign himself, or the rights, duties, and prerogatives belonging to him. Also a silver coin of the value of five shillings. Wharton. Crown cases. In English law. Criminal prosecutions on behalf of the crown, as representing the public; causes in the criminal courts. Crown cases reserved. In English law. Questions of law arising in criminal trials at the assizes, (otherwise than by way of demurrer,) and not decided there, but reserved for the consideration of the court of criminal appeal. Crown court. In English law. The court in which the crown cases, or criminal business, of the assizes is transacted. Crown debts. In English law. Debts due to the crown, which are put, by various statutes, up on a different footing from those due to a subject. Crown lands. The demesne lands of the crown. Crown law. Criminal law in England is sometimes so termed, the crown being always the prosecutor in criminal proceedings. 4 Bl. Comm. 2. Crown office. The criminal side of the court of king’s bench. The king’s attorney in this court is called “master of the crown office.” 4 Bl. Comm. 308. Crown office in chancery. One of the offices of the English high court of chancery, now transferred to the high court of justice. The principal official, the clerk of the crown, is an officer of parliament, and of the lord chancellor, in his nonjudicial capacity, rather than an officer of the courts of law. Crown paper. A paper containing the list of criminal cases which await the hearing or decision of the court, and particularly of the court of king’s bench; and it then includes all cases arising from informations quo warranto, criminal informations, criminal cases brought up from inferior courts by writ of certiorari, and cases from the sessions. Brown. Crown side. The criminal department of the court of king’s bench; the civil department or branch being called the “plea side”. 4 Bl. Comm. 265. Crown solicitor. In England, the solicitor to the treasury acts, in state prosecutions, as solicitor for the crown in preparing the prosecution. In Ireland there are officers called “crown solicitors” attached to each circuit, whose duty it is to get up every case for the crown in criminal prosecutions. They are paid by salaries. There Is no such system in England, where prosecutions are conducted by solicitors appointed by the parish, or other persons bound over to prosecute by the magistrates on each committal; But in Scotland the still better plan exists of a crown prosecutor (called the “procurator-fiscal,” and being a subordinate of the lord-advocate) in every county, who prepares every criminal prosecution. Wharton.