New York (State). Court of Admiralty

The colonial courts of vice admiralty were branches of the High Court of Admiralty in London. The New York court covered New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

The governor was commissioned as vice admiral but he appointed the presiding judge and other officers of the court. Jurisdiction of the court included all litigation relating to maritime commerce, though certain types of cases could be tried either in this court or in the regular common law courts. Unlike the common law court, the court of vice admiralty did not employ juries, and its procedure was in many respects based on civil (Roman), not common law.

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