The Senate of Milan was the keeper of Milan and Lombardy’s juridical tradition. It can be considered the continuity factor in the Duchy that transcended the changes in dynasty. Its most important power was the right to ratify laws, that is, the power to confirm the provisions of the sovereign (or the Governor representing him) or to oppose them if they conflicted with the laws of the Duchy of Milan. In this way the Senate granted some form of self-government to the Duchy even under foreign rule. The Senate was also the
supreme court of the Duchy of Milan for civil and criminal matters: it was the sole court for the most important civil cases (concerning land boundaries, family law and inheritance rights, the appointment of
legal guardians, obligations between private individuals, and
feudal law) and for crimes punishable by death; it was the second instance court for decisions of higher courts and the last instance court for decisions of lower courts. It could take over cases under the jurisdiction of other courts or send orders (
rescripta) to them with instructions on how to decide single cases. Although the Senate was a
collegial body, only the most sensitive or controversial cases were handled by the full college, which held its sessions in a hall (called ''Sala dell'Udienza
) located on the piano nobile'' of the Palazzo Regio-Ducale (now the
Royal Palace of Milan). The Senate's rulings (
decisiones) were final and irrevocable; they constituted binding precedents for lower courts, who were required to respect them. For this reason, the Senate's rulings were collected and published. The Senate could disapply a law or deviate from its consolidated practice. It did not give any reason for its rulings, and its activity was surrounded by secrecy. Among the Senate’s tasks was the direction of the
University of Pavia (where jurists were trained), the censorship of books and the protection of
public health, through the Magistracy of Health, whose president was appointed by the Senate among its members. == Abolition ==