 The county also had its own attorney general, whose authority to bring an indictment for criminal matters was tested by central government in the case of "R" v "Mary Ann Cotton" (1873).Certain courts and judicial posts for the county were abolished by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873.Section 2 of the Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836 and section 41 of the Courts Act 1971 abolished others.