England's Evolving Goverment
Juries and common law
From 1154 to 1189 Henry ruled England. He sent royal judges to every part of England at least once a year to strengthen the Royal courts of Justice. They collected taxes, settled lawsuits, and punished crimes. The jury in English courts got introduced by Henry. A jury in medieval England was a group of loyal people, usually 12 neighbors of the accused, who answered a loyal's judges questions about the facts of a case. Only the kings court was allowed to conduct them. The royals judges formed a unified body of law that became the common law. The common Law makes it easier to enforce restrictive covenants and protect property rights.