Court of Honor

A court of honor (or, court of honour) is a semi-official or unofficial tribunal constituted to determine various questions of social protocol, breaches of etiquette, and other allegations of breaches of honor, or entitlement to various honors.

The courts of chivalry

The Court of Chivalry was at one time also known as a "court of honour". In British law, the court of chivalry was a court held before the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Constable; since the abolition of the office of the Lord High Constable, it has been conducted by the Earl Marshal alone. It was established by a statute 13 Ric. II c.2. This court had jurisdiction to try cases concerning contracts and other matters concerning deeds and acts of war. The court of chivalry also had jurisdiction over disputes regarding heraldry and rights to use coats of arms. The court of chivalry was not a court of record, and as such had no power to enforce its decisions by fine or imprisonment; as such it became relatively disused. It is not obsolete, however, and cases have been brought before the court of chivalry as recently as 1954.

Duelling

A court of honor can also be a military court to investigate and issue judgments concerning acts or omissions which are considered to be unbecoming to an "officer or a gentleman", but which do not rise to the level where they are considered crimes triable under military law. A court of honor is also the name given to a tribunal of noblemen who would decide whether a grievance over a point of honour rose to the level warranting a duel, and if so set rules for its fair conduct.

In Scouting

In the Boy Scouts, a court of honor is a commission composed of 3 adult peers who obtained any of the following ranks, Jose Rizal, Scout Citizen, Eagle Scout. These adults will test a scout and make a determination of his entitlement to advance to the rank of Eagle Scout. The name "court of honor" is also given to the ceremony in which a scout becomes an Eagle Scout.

Reference

• Blackstone, William, III Bl.Comm 5.II, p. *68; III Bl.Comm. 7.II, pp. *103–104