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Simple English definitions for legal terms

plead (one's) belly

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A quick definition of plead (one's) belly:

Term: PLEAD (ONE'S) BELLY

Definition: In the past, when a woman was accused of a crime that could result in the death penalty or being sent away, she could say she was pregnant to avoid punishment. However, the court would appoint a group of women to check if she was really pregnant. If she was, she would not be punished until after the baby was born. If she was not, she would be punished as usual. This is no longer used, but it is still not allowed to punish a pregnant woman.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Plead (one's) belly is a historical slang term used to describe a female defendant's claim of pregnancy as a defense to avoid a court's sentence of capital punishment or transportation.

In the past, if a woman was accused of a crime that carried the death penalty or transportation, she could plead her belly to avoid punishment. This meant that she claimed to be pregnant, and a jury of matrons (married mothers) would be appointed to examine her claim. If the woman was found to be "quick with child" (in an advanced state of pregnancy), she would be granted a reprieve until after the child's birth or miscarriage.

For example, if a woman was accused of theft and faced the death penalty, she could plead her belly to avoid punishment. If the jury of matrons found her to be pregnant, she would be granted a reprieve until after the child's birth.

However, if the woman was found to be lying about her pregnancy, she would be punished severely. The court would keep track of her to see if the delay was justified or if she should be made to suffer the sentence at the next session.

Although the plea and the special jury are no longer in use, the prohibition against executing a pregnant woman persists in modern law.

For example, in the United States, it is illegal to execute a pregnant woman under 18 USCA § 3596(b).

pleading the baby act | plead over

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9:31
some people hate him. some people love him, but he a real one: https://youtu.be/w5oEqiVQcF4?t=173
9:32
[kevin oleary]
worthless i trust you implicitly you know what it will happen now.
worthless i trust you implicitly you know what it will happen now.
worthless i trust you implicitly you know what it will happen now.
worthless i trust you implicitly you know what it will happen now.
worthless i trust you implicitly you know what it will happen now.
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:34
I mean if Fordham doesn't release today I will purposefully get on a train, go to new york, and then take the stinkiest shit inside the admission office's toilet (potentially clogging it and forcing them to get a plumber)
IS IT ONLY ON MY END WHY DID THAT SEND TEN MILLION TIMES
HELLO
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:35
it sent a million times lol
WHAT HAPPENED
yeah i thought you were tweaking for a second
i'm so sorry everyone what the actual fuck this website hates me
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:35
Jack's just tweaking on LSD no biggie
to be fair this accurately represents my mental state
election day psychosis coming in hot (fordham)
usc pls pull through .....
i literally just need one A so i can relax before my ED decision
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:38
oh that's right USC might release
soapy
9:43
USC still has not looked at my app
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:43
when did you submit soapy?
soapy
9:44
10/16
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:44
to be fair it took them almost 2 months for me to go under review
soapy
9:44
Feelin a bit stressed, as I've got no date change for Michigan either despite applying 10/7
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:45
I have not had a date change either for Mich but I've seen people get in without one so who knows
I applied 9/25 to like 6 schools and some (Houston) have no date change yet so dw
soapy
9:46
But do people get in without addresses going long?
WorthlessAttractiveZombie
9:46
it's tough to tell because a lot of people type out their addresses long to begin with
soapy
9:46
Ah. I didn't. Looking back, my Mich supplement kind of sucks, so there's that
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