Mercy - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: mercyPrerogative of mercy
Prerogative of mercy. In early times the operation of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy was far wider than at the present day, as it was not only extended to some persons who in later ages would not be considered to have incurred any criminal respon-sibility, e.g., persons who had committed homicide by misadventure or in self-defence (Pollock and Maitland's Hist. Engl. Law, vol. ii., pp. 476 et seq.), but was even extended to jurors who had been attained for an oath that, though not false, was fatuous: ibid. p. 661. The power of pardoning offences is stated by Blackstone to be one of the great advantages of monarchy in general above every other form of government, and which cannot subsist in democracies. Its utility and necessity are defended by him on all those principles which do honour to human nature: see 4 Bl. Com. c. 31, p. 397. In early times, again, there were fewer offences that did not admit of being pardoned. In appeals (i.e., private accusations of felony) which were not the s...
In mercy
In mercy, means at a judge's discretion concerning punishment. A judgment formerly noted which litigant lost by stating that the unsuccessful party was in the court's mercy. A plaintiff held in mercy for a false claim, for example, was said to be in misericordia pro falso clamore suo, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 791....
Merciful
Full of mercy having or exercising mercy disposed to pity and spare offenders unwilling to punish Opposite of merciless...
Mercy, Recommendation to
Mercy, Recommendation to. It has for many years been common for a jury in finding a prisoner guilty, especially where the crime is murder, to accompany their verdict by a recommendation of the prisoner to the mercy of the Crown on certain named grounds. Such a recommendation has no legal effect whatever, but is usually attended to. Convicts, however, have been hanged inspite of it...
Recommendation to mercy
Recommendation to mercy. See MERCY...
mercy killing
mercy killing ...
Pardon
Pardon, forgiveness of a crime; remission of punis-hment.The pardoning of criminals is the peculiar preroga-tive of the sovereign. See 4 Steph. Com., 7th Edn.The sovereign may pardon all offences merely against the Crown and the public, excepting: (1) That to preserve the liberty of the subject, the committing any man to prison out of the realm is, by the Habeas Corpus Act (31 Car. 2, c. 2), made a pr'munire (see that title), unpardonable even by the Crown; and (2) that the sovereign cannot pardon where private justice is principally concerned in the prosecution of offenders--'non potest rex gratiam facere cum injuria et damno aliorum.'Neither at Common Law could the sovereign pardon an offence against a penal statute after information brought; for thereby the informer had acquired private property in his part of the penalty. But the Remission of Penalties Act, 1859, enables the Crown to remit penalties for offences, although payable to parties other than the Crown; and a special power...
Gracious
Abounding in grace or mercy manifesting love or bestowing mercy characterized by grace beneficent merciful disposed to show kindness or favor condescending as his most gracious majesty...
amercement
amercement [Anglo-French amerciment, from amercier to fine, from Old French a merci at one's mercy] : a fine or damages imposed at the discretion of the court ...
Magna Carta
Magna Carta, [Latin 'great charter'] The English charter that King John granted to the barons in 1215 and Henry III and Edward I later confirmed. It is generally regarded as one of the great common-law documents and as the foundation of constitution liberties. The other three great charters of English Liberty are the Petition of Right (3 Car. (1628)), the Habeas Corpus Act (31 Car. 2 (1679)), and the Bill of Rights (1 Will. SM. (1689)). Also spelled Magna charta, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 963.This Great Charter is based substantially upon the Saxon Common Law, which flourished in this kingdom until the Normaninvasion consolidated the system of feudality, still the great characteristic of the principles of real property. The barons assembled at St.Edmund's Bury, in Suffolk, in the later part of the year 1214, and there solemnly swore upon the high alter to withdraw their allegiance from the Crown, and openly rebel, unless King John confirmed by a formal charter the ancient li...
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