Wharton's Rule - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition wharton-s-rule

Wharton's Rule

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[after Francis Wharton (1820-89), American lawyer and author, who formulated it]
: a rule that prohibits the prosecution of two persons for conspiracy to commit a particular offense when the offense in question can only be committed by at least two persons NOTE: Wharton's Rule does not apply when legislative intent is to the contrary (as when the legislation imposes a separate punishment for conspiracy to commit a particular crime).