Dictionary of Law
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color of law :: legal definition


Color of law - n. the appearance of an act being performed based upon legal right or enforcement of statute, when in reality no such right exists. An outstanding example is found in the civil rights acts which penalize law enforcement officers for violating civil rights by making arrests "under color of law" of peaceful protesters or to disrupt voter registration. It could apply to phony traffic arrests in order to raise revenue from fines or extort payoffs to forget the ticket.


Related Law Terms

administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
American Civil Liberties Union :: n. a membership organization founded in 1920 to de ... rk, NY 10036; tel.: (212) 944-9800.
antitrust laws :: n. acts adopted by Congress to outlaw or restrict ... so: price fixing restraint of trade
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
civil law :: n. 1) a body of laws and legal concepts which come ... generic term for non-criminal law.
civil liberties :: n. rights or freedoms given to the people by the F ... nment. See also: civil civil rights
civil procedure :: n. the complex and often confusing body of rules a ... l civil action civil code civil law
civil rights :: n. those rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, ... ill of Rights civil civil liberties
claim :: 1) v. to make a demand for money, for property, or ... the government, it is lawsuit time.
concealed weapon :: n. a weapon, particularly a handgun, which is kept ... ions, arrests or improper activity.
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
discrimination :: n. unequal treatment of persons, for a reason whic ... qual rights. See also: civil rights
double jeopardy :: n. placing someone on trial a second time for an o ... that occurred thirty years earlier.
dower :: n. an old English common law right of a widow to o ... t and distribution widow's election
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
entrapment :: n. in criminal law, the act of law enforcement off ... e drugs if not pressed by the narc?
equal opportunity :: 1) n. a right supposedly guaranteed by both federa ... be so. See also: affirmative action
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
error :: n. a mistake by a judge in procedure or in substan ... or. See also: harmless error remand
fresh pursuit :: n. immediate chase of a suspected criminal by a la ... hot pursuit. See also: hot pursuit
jeopardy :: n. peril, particularly danger of being charged wit ... ar Evers. See also: double jeopardy
Jones Act :: n., adj. a federal law which covers injuries to cr ... ." See also: admiralty maritime law
lineup :: n. a law enforcement method used in an attempt to ... entification is precarious at best.
Magna Carta :: n. Latin for "Great Charter," it was a document de ... s. It is also spelled Magna Charta.
marshal :: 1) n. a federal court official who may serve paper ... tablish priorities among creditors.
martial law :: n. a system of complete control by a country's mil ... n and women. See also: military law
maxims :: n. a collection of legal truisms which are used as ... e and the ordinary habits of life."
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
nominee :: n. 1) a person or entity who is requested or named ... ic office. See also: agent executor
official misconduct :: n. improper and/or illegal acts by a public offici ... ty. See also: color of law official
possession :: n. 1) any article, object, asset or property which ... ctive possession. See also: possess
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
right :: 1) n. an entitlement to something, whether to conc ... e also: civil rights marital rights
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
state action :: n. in federal Civil Rights Acts, dating back to 18 ... for damages. See also: civil rights
substantive law :: n. law which establishes principles and creates an ... are conducted. See also: procedure
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
waiver :: n. the intentional and voluntary giving up of some ... ssed on the record. See also: waive
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.