Easter term

English

Easter + term. The word Easter is from Old English ēastre, apparently from Ēastre (“the name of a goddess whose festival was celebrated at the vernal equinox”), from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ. The Christian feast day of Easter, which falls between 22 March and 25 April, often occurs during this term.

Easter term (plural Easter terms)

The third term of the legal year, running from April to May, during which the upper courts of England and Wales, and Ireland, sit to hear cases.
The summer term of the University of Cambridge, and other educational institutions, running from April to June. The term was modelled after the legal term, but does not begin and end on the same dates.
- 1813, “University Terms, and How Many are Required to be Kept for each Degree”, in The Oxford University Calendar, for the Year 1813, Oxford: Printed by Munday and Slatter, for J. Parker; and F[rancis] C[harles] and J[ames] Rivington, London, OCLC 270591918, page 65:
  There are four terms in the year, viz. […] 3. Easter term, which begins on the tenth day after Easter Sunday, and ends on the day before Whitsunday.

In England and Wales, the system of terms applies to the High Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court; in Ireland it applies to the High Court and the Supreme Court.

At present in England and Wales, Easter term begins on the second Tuesday after Easter Sunday and ends on the Friday before the spring holiday, which is the bank holiday on the last Monday in May or any day appointed instead of that day.[1] In Ireland it begins on the first Monday following Easter Sunday and ends on the Thursday before Whitsunday.[2]

“Practice Direction 39B – Court Sittings”, in Ministry of Justice‎, 16 May 2014, archived from the original on 27 March 2016, paragraphs 1.1(1)(c) and 1.1(2).
“Rules of the Superior Courts”, in Courts Service Ireland‎, accessed 9 November 2016, archived from the original on 1 April 2016, Order 118(1).

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