 The General Court was both the chief legislative and judicial body of the colony . It was elected by the freemen from among their own number and met regularly in Plymouth , the capital town of the colony . As part of its judicial duties , it would periodically call a Grand Enquest , which was a grand jury of sorts , elected from the freemen , who would hear complaints and swear out indictments for credible accusations . The General Court , and later lesser town and county courts , would preside over trials of accused criminals and over civil matters , but the ultimate decisions were made by a jury of freemen . 
