abbreviation for Queen's BenchCounsel or Queen's Barrister Court. At one time, the English sovereign (queen or king) presided in this court and the court followed the sovereign when he/she moved from one place to another. The purpose originally was to keep the queen or king's peace. The Queen's Bench is now a division of the judicial system. The head of the judiciary system nominates the members of the Queen's Counsel (barristers) and they are appointed by the crown and are the only ones who have the power to plea at the bar and engage in conducting the trial or argument of causes. -SHSBC Binder 1 Glossary