Simple English definitions for legal terms
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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.
Definition: F. has two meanings:
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.