Editing New France (section)

===Criminal justice===
{{Main|Criminal justice in New France}}
In the early stages of French colonization, the execution of criminal justice in New France was rather arbitrary. The [[Governor of New France]] served as the judge to the colonists as well as soldiers. He would announce his verdict at the presence of the chiefs of the Company of One Hundred Associates and that would be final.{{sfnp|Lareau|1881|page=286}}

After the Sovereign Council was established in Quebec in 1663, the Council carried out criminal justice according to the general ordinances of France.{{sfnp|Lareau|1881|page=286}} In 1670, the [[Criminal Ordinance of 1670|Criminal Ordinance]] was enacted in New France by order of the French king as a codification of the previous criminal laws passed by the [[Sovereign Council of New France|Sovereign Council]].{{sfnp|Lareau|1881|page=282}}