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Lord Chancellor

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.

lord chancellor

 also called Lord High Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal

British official who is custodian of the great seal and a cabinet minister. Until the 14th century the chancellor served as royal chaplain and king's secretary. The office acquired a more judicial character in the reign of Edward III (1327–77). Most of the office's power, exemplified in the administrations of St. Thomas Becket (died 1170) and Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (died 1530), ceased to exist centuries ago. The lord chancellor, however, remained an important post, with responsibilities that included heading the judiciary and serving as speaker of the House of Lords. As Lords speaker, the chancellor stated the question and took part in debates. In 2006 the office's role was redefined through several constitutional reforms. The lord chancellor lost most judicial functions, and the Lords speaker became an elected office. The changes allowed the lord chancellor to focus on constitutional affairs.


Lord Chancellor
Brit Government the cabinet minister who is head of the judiciary in England and Wales and Speaker of the House of Lords


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Michaelmas term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Inn Hall.
All this I saw from the open window of the Warden's breakfast-saloon, looking across the shoulder of the Lord Chancellor, who had sprung to his feet the moment the shouting began, almost as if he had been expecting it, and had rushed to the window which commanded the best view of the market-place.
Would you care a ha'penny for the Lord Chancellor if you know'd him in private and without his wig?
 
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