The Ottoman Islamic legal system was set up differently from traditional European courts. Presiding over Islamic courts would be a Qadi, or judge. Since the closing of the ijtihad, or Gate of Interpretation, Qadis throughout the Ottoman Empire focused less on legal precedent, and more with local customs and traditions in the areas that they administered. However, the Ottoman court system lacked an appellate structure, leading to jurisdictional case strategies where plaintiffs could take their disputes from one court system to another until they achieved a ruling that was in their favor. COUNT 5
QSN1 Who was the one that presided over the empire's Islamic Courts? ANS1 Qadi QSN2 At what juncture did the Qadi focus less on precedent? ANS2 closing of the ijtihad, or Gate of Interpretation QSN3 What was one thing the Ottoman legal system lacked? ANS3 an appellate structure QSN4 What did Qadis focus on in some areas? ANS4 local customs and traditions QSN5 What is another word for Qadi? ANS5 judge