Along with the palatine, the judge royal and the ban, the voivode was one of the Kingdom's highest judges.[50] In this capacity, he was authorized to issue "credible" charters.[50] The earliest preserved charter dates to 1248.[2] The voivodes or their vice-voivodes always heard disputes together with local noblemen who knew local customs.[51][52] Initially, the voivodes and their deputies held their courts at Marosszentimre (Sântimbru), but they heard disputes at their own abodes from the 14th century.[51] Voivodes rarely headed their courts after the 1340s and were rather represented by their deputies.[52]