An ecclesiastical court, also called court Christian or court spiritual, is any ofcourts having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. In the Middle Ages these courts had much wider powers in numerous areas of Europe than previously the developing of nation states. They were experts in interpreting canon law, a basis of which was the Corpus Juris Civilis of Justinian which is considered the segment of reference of the civil law legal tradition.
The dioceses of numerous Eastern Orthodox denominations, such as the Russian Orthodox Church, construct their own ecclesiastical courts. In addition, the Russian Orthodox Church has a General Ecclesiastical Court with jurisdiction throughout the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the Court of the Bishops’ Council which serves as the court ofappeal. Under the Russian Empire, Russian Orthodox ecclesiastical courts held jurisdiction over cases of adultery, incest, bestiality, together with blasphemy. They also held responsibility for divorce, which could only be obtained in cases of adultery.
The Greek Eastern Orthodox churches hit ecclesiastical courts. For example, the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople has such courts for imposing whether to grant divorce after the State has.
The Judicial Council is the highest court in the United Methoist Church. It consists of nine members, both laity and clergy, elected by the General Conference for an eight-year term. The ratio of laity to clergy alternates every four years. The Judicial Council interprets the Book of Discipline between sessions of General Conference, and during General Conference the Judicial Council rules on the constitutionality of laws passed by General Conference. The Council also determines if actions of local churches, annual conferences, church agencies, and bishops are in accordance with church law. The Council reviews all decisions of law presented by bishops The Judicial Council cannot create any legislation; it can only interpret existing legislation. The Council meets twice a year at various locations throughout the world. The Judicial Council also hears appeals from those who have been accused of chargeable offenses that can statement in defrocking or revocation of membership.