The Statute of Pleading, also known as the Pleading in English Act 1362, stands as a landmark legislation in English legal history that shifted courtroom procedures from Law French, which was largely incomprehensible to the common people, to English for oral pleadings.
Although court records continued to be kept in Latin, this statute mandated that “all Pleas… shall be pleaded, shewed, defended, answered, debated, and judged in the English language,” fundamentally making law and justice more accessible and comprehensible to the English-speaking populace.
The legacy of the Statute extended beyond England itself, being enacted in Ireland by Poynings’ Law in 1495. Though it was eventually repealed in the 19th century, its impact resonates in how English evolved as the legal and governmental language.
Importantly, the statute did not immediately revoke the use of Law French or Latin in legal contexts but marked the beginning of English’s formal incorporation into law—a monumental step for the democratization of legal processes.
The Statute of Pleading and Its Legacy
The 1362 Statute of Pleading arose from the need to make legal proceedings understandable to the English-speaking majority, who were alienated by the use of Law French in courts. The statute required that all oral pleadings in court be conducted in English, while official records continued to be recorded in Latin, reflecting the transitional phase of legal language.
Although the statute did not end the use of Law French immediately, it paved the way for English to become the language of law and governance. Its adoption symbolized the beginning of English’s ascent in officialdom and helped integrate English into the bureaucratic and legal lexicon, contributing to the development of Modern English legal terminology.
FAQs on the Statute of Pleading
Q: What was the main purpose of the Statute of Pleading 1362?
A: The statute mandated that oral court proceedings be held in English to make judicial processes transparent and understandable to common people, while records remained in Latin.
Q: Did the Statute of Pleading immediately replace Law French in all legal matters?
A: No, Law French and Latin continued in many legal contexts, especially in written records, for some time after the statute.
Q: What was the long-term impact of the statute?
A: It catalyzed the rise of English as the language of law and government and contributed to the standardization and expansion of English legal vocabulary.
Q: Was the Statute of Pleading applied outside England?
A: Yes, it was extended to Ireland through Poynings’ Law in 1495.
Q: When was the statute repealed?
A: The statute was repealed in the 19th century—specifically in England and Wales in 1863, and Ireland in 1872—but its legacy remains foundational.
