The local courts were originally created in response to the need to fill a temporary administrative vacuum created by the establishment of the new government, and they took over the functions of Bugyosho (a magistrate's office) and Gundai-shihaijo (an administrative office for each county), both administrative offices during the Edo bakufu feudal government.
この裁判所は、江戸幕府の奉行所と郡代支配所の機能を引き継ぎ、当座の行政の空白を埋める必要から設けられたものである。