oy·er and ter·mi·ner (oi  r; tûrm-nr)n. Law 1. A hearing or trial. 2. A court of general criminal jurisdiction in some states of the United States. 3. a. A commission empowering a judge in Great Britain to hear and rule on a criminal case at the assizes. b. The court in Great Britain where such a hearing is held. [Middle English, partial translation of Anglo-Norman oyer et terminer, to hear and determine : oyer, to hear + terminer, to determine.] |
oyer and terminer [ˈtɜːmɪnə]
n
1. (Law) English law (formerly) a commission issued to judges to try cases on assize. It became obsolete with the abolition of assizes and the setting up of crown courts in 1972
2. (Historical Terms) the court in which such a hearing was held
3. (Law) (in the US) a court exercising higher criminal jurisdiction
[from Anglo-Norman, from oyer to hear + terminer to judge]
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