Jus novum (c. 1140-1563) Jus novissimum (c. 1563-1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of the faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life A papal judge delegate was a type of judicial appointment created during the 12th century by the medieval papacy where the pope would designate a local judge, often an ecclesiastic, to decide a case that had been appealed to the papal court.
[1] The system began during the pontificate of Paschal II (1099–1118), when the first records appear of the papacy delegating some of its judicial authority to others for the resolution of cases.
At first, it was used in order to expedite the discovery of local knowledge of cases, rather than to reduce the papal court's workload.
It is only later, during the pontificate of Alexander III that the papal courts appears to have recognized that the delegation system could also reduce the volume of cases that had to be decided at Rome.
Celestine did indicate that the legate was higher in rank than the judge, although he was sovereign in matters relating to his appointed case.