Sir John Holt (1642 to 1710) was an English judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1689 until his death. He became known for effectively ending prosecutions for witchcraft in English law, directing juries toward reasonable doubt and, in the Moordike case of 1701 to 1702, ordering a false accuser to pay restitution and face perjury charges, a ruling historians have credited with deterring further witchcraft accusations. Beyond that legacy, he authored influential common law decisions shaping English jurisprudence on bailment, property rights, and voting rights.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.