To ensure royal justice reached every corner of his realm, Henry II established a system where judges traveled on regular circuits. These judges brought a consistent system of law, diminishing the corruption that plagued previous attempts at local justice.

Under Henry’s reforms, juries began to be formed from citizens who would hear cases and provide verdicts based on evidence presented. The decisions made by these juries were recorded and began the practice of citing past decisions (precedents) in legal arguments, significantly shaping the evolution of common law.

Upon ascending the throne, Henry II faced the daunting task of restoring order after nearly two decades of civil war. England had suffered greatly during the disputes between his mother, Matilda, and her cousin, Stephen, over the crown.

Nobles and common people alike desired a strong monarch to stabilize the country and restore justice. The expectation was that a powerful king would provide fair and effective means of resolving disputes, contrasting with the arbitrary rule of local warlords.

Henry II expanded upon the Saxon concept of peace, which held that every man had his peace, with the King's peace being the most significant. This idea remains embedded in English law, where maintaining the "Queen's peace" is a fundamental duty of law enforcement.

This important legal reform instituted a new form of trial where the King had the right to summon men to provide evidence under oath. This practice laid the groundwork for what would evolve into the Grand Jury system in the United States, and eventually contributed to the modern concept of an impartial jury that hears both sides of a case.

Henry II's reign saw the creation of various courts that would address different legal matters, such as the Court of Exchequer for tax disputes, the Court of Common Pleas for civil matters, and the King’s Bench for serious criminal cases. These courts laid the foundation for the modern judicial system.

The development of the writ system was crucial for formalizing legal claims. Clerics from Henry’s chancellery created a range of claim forms called writs, which required specific procedures to initiate legal actions. This added complexity to the legal system but also enhanced its rigor and reliability.

A critical aspect of Henry’s efforts to consolidate royal authority was the introduction of the Constitutions of Clarendon. This document sought to define the extent of royal prerogatives over the Church, establishing that clergy accused of crimes should be tried in royal courts rather than ecclesiastical ones. This led to intense conflict with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The tensions between Henry and Becket culminated in Becket’s murder in 1170, a tragic event that highlighted the ongoing struggle between church and state authority. Although Henry eventually revoked some of the controversial clauses of the Constitutions, many provisions remained, further integrating them into English common law.