Administration of Justice Act 1774
The Administration of Justice Act, or Act for the Impartial Administration of Justice, also popularly called the Murdering Act or Murder Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of Great Britain (citation 14 Geo III c. 39) and becoming law on 20 May 1774, is one of the measures (variously called the Intolerable Acts, the Punitive Acts or the Coercive Acts) that were designed to secure Britain's jurisdiction over her American dominions.
The act effectively abolished the local administration of justice, providing that the Governor of Massachusetts could direct that any inquisition, indictment or appeal be tried in Great Britain or in another British Colony, providing for coercing any witnesses to appear at such a trial, and requiring bail for any person accused of a "capital crime in the execution of their duty." This means that trials would take place in Britain, under a British judge, ensuring court trials would result in British favor.
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