In English law. A court for the trial of cases of treason and felony. The commis-sloners of assise and nisi prius are judges selected by the king and appointed aud au-thorized under the great seal, including usually two of the Judges at westmlnster, and sent out twice a year Into most of the counties of England, for the trial (with a jury of the county) of causes then depend-lng at westmlnster, both civil and criminal. They sit by virtue of several commissions, each of which, ln reality, constitutes them a separate and distinct court. The commis-sion of oyer and terminer gives them author-ity for the trial of treasons and felonies; that of general gaol delivery empowers them to try every prisoner then in gaol for what-ever offense; so that, altogether, they pos-sess full criminal jurisdiction
