Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A proclamation of exigents is a historical practice where the sheriff would repeatedly announce that a person in the county was about to be outlawed. This was done through a judicial writ called an exigent, which required the defendant to appear in court to answer the plaintiff's action. If the defendant did not appear, they would be outlawed. Exigents were used in urgent situations that required immediate action or aid.
Definition: Proclamation of exigents refers to the repeated proclamations made by the sheriff of an imminent outlawing of a person in the county where the person lived. It is a historical term that was used in the process of outlawry.
Exigent: The term "exigent" refers to something that requires immediate action or aid. For example, if someone is drowning, it is an exigent situation that requires immediate help.
Exigent (historical): In the historical context, "exigent" was a judicial writ used in the process of outlawry. It commanded the sheriff to demand the defendant's appearance, from county court to county court, until he was outlawed. If the defendant appeared, the sheriff was to take him before the court to answer the plaintiff's action.
Example: Let's say that John was accused of a crime and was required to appear in court. However, John refused to appear in court, and the sheriff was unable to locate him. In such a case, the sheriff would issue a proclamation of exigents, which would require John to appear in court. If John still refused to appear, he would be outlawed.
Explanation: The example illustrates how the proclamation of exigents was used in the process of outlawry. If a defendant refused to appear in court, the sheriff would issue a proclamation of exigents, which would require the defendant to appear in court. If the defendant still refused to appear, he would be outlawed.