The seat of a judge; the place where he administers justice; a judicial court: the bench of judges. See Foster v. Worcester, 10 Pick. (Mass.) 81. In Roman law. An elevated seat occupied by the pretor. when he judged, or heard causes in form. Originally a kind of stage made of wood in the form of a square, and movable, but afterwards built of stone in the form of a semicircle. Adams, Rom. Ant. 132, 133.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
