The président à mortier (French pronunciation: ​[pʁezidɑ̃t‿a mɔʁtje]) was one of the most important legal posts of the French Ancien Régime. The présidents were principal magistrates of the highest juridical institutions, the parlements, which were the appeal courts. They numbered 11 in 1789. They were spread over chambers, comprising those who were , who assessed and dispensed justice, and présidents who chaired sessions. Typically, the presidents served under a premier président, who was a royal appointee, not a purchaser of the office. This led to constant tensions.