Court of record
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COURT OF RECORD. At common law, any jurisdiction which has the power to fine
and imprison, is a court of record. Salk. 200; Bac. Ab. Fines and
Amercements, A. And courts which do not possess this power are not courts of
record. See Court.
2. The act of congress, to establish an uniform rule of naturalization,
&c., approved April 14, 1802, enacts, that for the purpose of admitting
aliens to become citizens, that every court of record in any individual
state, having common law jurisdiction and a seal, and a clerk or
prothonotary, shall be considered as a district court within. the meaning of
this act.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.