Bar

Bar, literally, a term used to designate in a court of justice the inclosure made to prevent persons engaged in the business of the court from being incommoded by a crowd. From the circumstance of counsel standing in such inclosure to plead their causes, it is supposed that these lawyers who have been called to the bar, or admitted to plead, are termed "Barristers," and that the body of barristers is collectively designated "the Bar." These terms are, however, probably more directly traceable to the arrangements of the Inns of Court. Prisoners are also placed for trial at the bar, hence the term "prisoner at the bar." The term is also applied to the breast-high partition which divides from the body of the respective Houses of Parliament a space near the door, beyond which none but the members and clerks are admitted. To these bars witnesses and persons ordered into custody for breach of privilege are brought, and counsel stand there when pleading before the respective houses. The Commons go to the bar of the House of Lords when the Queen's Speech, at the opening and close of a session, is delivered. A "trial at bar" is one which takes place before all the judges of the division of the High Court in which action is brought.