Legal Definitions - infamous

In a legal context, the term infamous historically referred to a person who, after being convicted of a serious crime, suffered a significant loss of civil rights or public standing. While the direct legal application of "infamy" has evolved, it still carries the connotation of a crime so morally reprehensible that it severely damages one's reputation and standing within the legal system, often leading to specific legal disabilities.

• Example 1 (Historical loss of rights): Imagine a person in 19th-century America who was convicted of embezzlement, a crime involving the fraudulent appropriation of funds. Depending on the jurisdiction, such a conviction might have legally rendered them "infamous," meaning they would lose the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, or even vote.

  Explanation: This illustrates how, historically, a conviction for a serious crime like embezzlement could directly lead to a legal declaration of infamy, resulting in the deprivation of specific civil rights and participation in civic life.

• Example 2 (Modern reputational impact and legal consequences): Consider a high-profile public official found guilty of bribery and corruption. While modern statutes may not explicitly use the term "infamous," the conviction for such a crime would undoubtedly brand them as "infamous" in the public eye. Legally, this could lead to disbarment if they were an attorney, permanent disqualification from holding any future public office, and a severe loss of credibility in any legal proceedings where their character might be relevant.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates how, even without a formal declaration of "infamy," a conviction for a morally reprehensible crime like bribery carries a similar weight of severe reputational damage and specific legal consequences that mirror the historical concept of infamy.

• Example 3 (Focus on the nature of the crime): In some historical legal systems, crimes like treason or counterfeiting were specifically categorized as "infamous crimes." This classification meant that anyone convicted of these offenses was automatically considered "infamous," not just because of the punishment, but because the very nature of the act was seen as a profound betrayal of public trust or the state itself, leading to an inherent loss of honor and civil standing.

  Explanation: This highlights that "infamous" often described the type of crime – one so grave and morally offensive that it inherently led to the perpetrator's legal and social degradation, regardless of the specific sentence.