high steward

In England, one of the great officers of state. The Court of the High Steward formerly decided upon claims to do services at the coronation of the sovereign; this duty is now performed by the Court of Claims newly appointed on each accession. A high steward was also created to preside over the House of Lords on the trial of a peer.

The original duty of the high steward seems to have been to place the dishes on the lord's table at solemn feasts. On the accession of Henry IV the office was merged in the Crown.

Privilege of peerage in relation to criminal proceedings was abolished by the Criminal Justice Act 1948. There is a high steward attached to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, to protect the rights of the university courts.