Wikipedia:Today's featured list/January 9, 2015
The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was the head of the Court of Common Pleas, which was the second-highest common law court in the English legal system until 1875, when it became part of the High Court of Justice. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord High Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice of England. The position of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was formalised in 1272 with the raising of Sir Gilbert of Preston to Chief Justice, and from then on it was a formally appointed role similar to the positions of Lord Chief Justice and Chief Baron of the Exchequer. When the High Court was created in 1875, the three common law courts became separate divisions of it until 1880, when the three common law divisions were merged; John Coleridge (pictured), the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, became Lord Chief Justice, and the offices of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Chief Baron were abolished. (Full list...)