The Appeals Court

Under the ancient regime, justice was dealt with in royal courts of law, at different levels, such as seneschal’s courts, presidial courts or parliamentary courts, who ruled on the most serious cases. There were also many seigneurial courts of law who dealt with minor disputes. Just like nowadays, people could appeal court decisions they found unfair. In the middle of the 15th century, an appeal court was set up in Ségur. It was called « cour des appeaux ». This court was in charge of ruling verdicts in over 150 seigneurial jurisdictions throughout the Vicounty of Limoges and the County of Périgueux. If a further appeal was filed, the case was presented before the royal parliament of Bordeaux.
This court was extremely busy in Ségur, with the constant rush of magistrates, plaintiffs and litigants. However, it closed down in 1750, by a king’s edict, as it was considered as being too isolated, geographically.