Custos Rotulorum

Custos Rotulorum (Lat., 'keeper of the rotuli or rolls') is the person appointed by the crown to keep the records of the county sessions. The office is an ancient one, and can only be held by a justice of peace. In fact it is usually held by the lord-lieutenant. In practice the rolls are kept by the clerk of the peace, an officer appointed by the Custos Rotulorum.