Page "Judicial functions of the House of Lords" Paragraph 5

Parliament originally did not hear appeals as a court might ; rather, it heard petitions for the judgments of lower courts to be reversed.

The House of Commons ceased considering such petitions in 1399, leaving the House of Lords, effectively, as the nation's court of last resort.

The Lords ' jurisdiction later began to decline ; only five cases were heard between 1514 and 1589, and no cases between 1589 and 1621.

In 1621, the House of Lords resumed its judicial role when King James I sent the petition of Edward Ewer, a persistent litigant, to be considered by the House of Lords.

Petitions for the House of Lords to review the decisions of lower courts began to increase once again.

After Ewer, 13 further cases would be heard in 1621.

The House of Lords appointed a Committee for Petitions.

At first, the Clerk of the Parliaments would bring petitions to the House, and the whole House could decide if they should or should not be referred to the Committee.

As the number of petitions increased, the Committee gained the power to reject petitions itself.