Legal Definitions - outlawry

Outlawry refers to the historical legal process of formally declaring an individual an "outlaw," thereby stripping them of the protection and benefits of the law. It also describes the resulting state or condition of being an outlaw, where a person is considered outside the legal system's jurisdiction and safeguards. In a broader, less formal sense, it can also describe a general disregard for or disobedience of the law.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of outlawry:

• Imagine a medieval European kingdom where a powerful lord is accused of rebelling against the crown. If this lord refuses to appear in court to face the charges and instead flees, the king's council might issue a formal declaration of outlawry against him. This act would mean that the lord loses all his property, his legal rights are suspended, and he can no longer seek justice or protection from the courts. Anyone could apprehend or even harm him without facing legal repercussions, as he is no longer considered under the law's protection.

  This example illustrates outlawry as both the formal legal process of depriving someone of legal benefits and the resulting state of being without legal protection.

• Consider a group of notorious pirates operating on the high seas in the 17th century. These individuals, by their very actions of plunder and violence, place themselves outside the established laws of any nation. While no single court might formally declare them "outlaws" in the same way a kingdom would its rebellious lord, their status is effectively one of outlawry. They are pursued by navies, afforded no legal rights if captured, and their activities are universally condemned as being beyond the pale of legitimate conduct, signifying their complete detachment from legal protection and societal norms.

  This example highlights the state or condition of being an outlaw, where individuals operate entirely outside the legal framework and are treated as having no legal rights or protections due to their actions.