Patent of precedence
A patent of precedence is a grant to an individual by letters patent of a higher social or professional position than the precedence to which his ordinary rank entitles him.
Historical use in the English legal profession
The principal instance in recent times of patents of grants of this description has been the grant of precedence to members of the
king's counsel not only precluded a barrister from appearing against the Crown, but, if he was a member of parliament, entailed that he give up his seat. A patent of precedence was resorted to as a means of conferring similar marks of honour on distinguished counsel without any such disability attached to it. The patents obtained by Mansfield, Erskine, Scott, Jervis and Brougham were granted on this ground.[1]
After the
Serjeant Simon, who died in that year, and who was the last of the serjeants who held such a patent.[2]
Canada
In
References
- ^ public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Patents of Precedence". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 910. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ Pulling, S. A. (1884). The Order of the Coif. London: W. Clowes & Sons..
- ^ Att. Gen. for Canada v. Att. Gen. for Ontario [1898] AC 247
- ^ Todd. Parliamentary Government in Canada (2nd ed.). p. p.333.