Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Against the peace and dignity of the state means doing something that is very bad and goes against the rules of the state. It is a phrase used in legal documents to show that the behavior being described is not acceptable and is harmful to the community as a whole. This phrase comes from an old way of talking about crimes that were committed against the king's peace.
Definition: Against the peace and dignity of the state is a phrase used in legal indictments to condemn the offending conduct generally, rather than the specific charge of wrongdoing contained in the body of the instrument. It is derived from the Law Latin phrase "contra pacem domini regis" which means "against the peace of the lord the king".
Example: A person is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The indictment may include the phrase "against the peace and dignity of the state" to indicate that the person's actions were not only illegal but also harmful to the well-being of the community.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the phrase "against the peace and dignity of the state" is used to indicate that the accused person's actions were not only illegal but also harmful to the community. The phrase is used to emphasize the seriousness of the offense and to show that it is not just a violation of the law, but also a violation of the values and principles that the state upholds.
against the form of the statute | against the weight of the evidence