Batesford was sent with William Haward as justice of assize into the counties of York, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancaster, Nottingham, and Derby in 1293.
In 1307 he was put on the commission of trailbaston, a special commission issued for the trial of a peculiar class of criminals who went about in gangs armed with clubs (baston, baton), 'beating, wounding, maltreating, and killing many in the kingdom' for hire.
In 1310 he was placed on the commission of oyer and terminer for the counties of Warwick and Leicester, for the trial of offenders indicted before the conservators of the peace.
In 1311 he was sent as a justice of assize into Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somersetshire, Cornwall, and Devon, and in the same year, having quit parliament without obtaining permission from the king, he was peremptorily recalled, and ordered not to absent himself in future without the king's licence.
In 1320 his executors were ordered to cause the records of the proceedings before him as justice of assize or otherwise to be transmitted to the exchequer.