AMERCEMENT

Legal Dictionary -> AMERCEMENT

AMERCEMENT


AMERCEMENT, practice. A pecuniary penalty imposed upon a person who is in misericordia; as, for example, when the defendant se retaxit, or recessit incontemptum curioe. 8 Co. 58; Bar. Ab. Fines and Amercements. By the commonlaw, none can be amerced in his absence, except for his default. Non licetaliquem in sua absentia amerciare nisi per ejus defaltas. Fleta, lib. 2,cap. 65, Sec. 15. 2. Formerly, if the sheriff failed in obeying the writs, rules, ororders of the court, he might be amerced; that is, a penalty might beimposed upon him; but this practice has been superseded by attachment. InNew Jersey and Ohio, the sheriff may, by statutory provision, be amerced formaking a return contrary to the provision of the statute. Coxe, 136, 169; 6Halst. 334; 3 Halst. 270, 271; 5 Halst. 319; 1 Green, 159, 341; 2 Green,350; 2 South. 433; 1 Ham. 275; 2 Ham. 603; 6 Ham. 452; Wright, 720.

Terms of Use | Canadian Lawyers