General Issue - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition general-issue

Definition :

General issue, a plea simply traversing modo et forma the allegations in the declaration, as the plea of 'not guilty' in torts; 'never indebted' to money counts, or 'nunquam assumpsit' to actions on simple contract (English) C.L.P. Act, 1852, Sched. B, 37). Pleading the general issue was abolished by the (English) Judicature Acts, R.S.C. 1883, Ord. XIX., r. 4, providing that every pleading shall contain, and contain only, a statement in a summary form of the facts on which the party pleading relies; and the particular form of pleading the general issue by pleading ''not guilty by statute' (see that title) is abolished by the (English) Public Authorities Protection Act, 1893, as regards any proceeding to which that Act applies.

In criminal proceedings the general issue is 'not guilty,' which is pleaded viva voce by the prisoner at the bar.