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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

F.

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A quick definition of F.:

Term: F.

Definition: F. is an abbreviation for the first series of the Federal Reporter, which includes federal decisions (trial and appellate) from 1880 to 1924. It is also a letter that was branded on a felon who claimed benefit of clergy so that the felon could claim the benefit only once. Additionally, those convicted for an affray (fray) or falsity were also branded with the letter F. This was done to mark them as a fray-maker or fighter. The branding was done with a hot iron and was a punishment for breaking the law.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: F. has two meanings:

  1. It is an abbreviation for the first series of the Federal Reporter. This series includes federal decisions (trial and appellate) from 1880 to 1924.
  2. In history, F. was a letter branded on a felon who claimed benefit of clergy. This meant that the felon could claim the benefit only once. Additionally, those convicted for an affray (fray) or falsity were also branded with the letter F. The branding was done with a hot iron on the cheek or ear of the felon. The letter F was used to identify the felon as a fray-maker or fighter.

For example, Thomas Blount's Nomo-Lexicon: A Law-Dictionary (1670) states, "He that shall maliciously strike any person with a Weapon in Church or Churchyard, or draw any Weapon there with intent to strike, shall have one of his Ears cut off; and, if he have no Ears, then shall be marked on the Cheek with a hot Iron, having the Letter F, whereby he may be known for a Fray-maker or Fighter."

This example illustrates how the letter F was used to brand felons who committed violent crimes. The branding was a form of punishment and also served as a way to identify the felon as a repeat offender.

Giles Jacob's A New Law-Dictionary (8th ed. 1762) also explains the use of the letter F. Jacob writes, "F, Is a Letter wherewith Felons, &c. are branded and marked with an hot Iron, on their being admitted to the Benefit of Clergy."

This example shows that the branding with the letter F was done when a felon claimed benefit of clergy. Benefit of clergy was a legal concept that allowed first-time offenders to avoid the death penalty by claiming that they were clerics and therefore subject to ecclesiastical law instead of secular law.

eyrer | F. 2D

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Just apply and get the A lol
triplethread
11:13
got like 3 more apps
there should be a law school draft akin to the NFL Draft where law schools can recruit us
or a MaxPreps esque high light video where Deans can rank us
1a2b3c4d26z
11:15
In this analogy is the LSAT the NFL combine
JumpySubsequentDolphin
11:16
I told my family I won’t get any decisions until 2025 so they wouldn’t bombard me hahah
no i think there should be a Law School combine with all new drills except there is still the 40 yard dash
and a sub 4.5 gets you into any t14
LSAT can be one of the drills
letsseehowitgoesnow
11:17
so washu only called one person
So all the D1 athletes will get into a T-14. What else is new?
@TheAdoptedOne: that is called "Dean Poker Night" lol
@ClockworkBlue: I feel like most people could train for the 40 for the same amount of time as they do the LSAT and get close to sub 5 which would be equivalent to a 167+
this is like the schizophrenic posts JJK tik tok be putting out
powerscaling Law School deans up next
11:19
Election Day election day
Write in Dean Z vote
11:20
Saw a guy that wrote in Biden and he said no retirement for you buddy
1a2b3c4d26z
11:20
@ClockworkBlue: god I hope that's true
if the country was run the same as Mich Law it would be a better place
Imagine if election night was run by an adcom? Like, "yep, we could get the results Friday, or June 2025."
imagine if it was like Berkley applications
1a2b3c4d26z
11:22
Election status: Complete
1a2b3c4d26z
11:22
For months
triplethread
11:23
erection day
soapy
11:23
Shoutout to Robinhood's election bet not resolving until January
triplethread
11:23
is anyone else like certain that trump will win
ambitiouslizard
11:23
he aint winning
triplethread
11:23
i like being a pessimist
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