Legal Definitions - recognizor

A recognizor is an individual who formally acknowledges and promises to a court or other legal authority that they will perform a specific action, or that they will pay a designated sum of money if they fail to perform that action. This formal promise, known as a recognizance, is officially recorded.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a recognizor:

• Criminal Bail Scenario: Imagine a person, Mr. Davies, arrested for a minor offense. A judge agrees to release him from custody before his trial, provided he promises to appear at all future court hearings. Mr. Davies signs a document acknowledging this obligation and agreeing that if he fails to appear, he will forfeit a specific amount of money. In this situation, Mr. Davies is the recognizor because he has formally promised the court to fulfill a condition (appearing in court) and faces a financial penalty if he breaches that promise.

• Peace Bond Scenario: Consider a situation where two neighbors, Ms. Chen and Mr. Rodriguez, have had ongoing disputes. A court orders Mr. Rodriguez to enter into a peace bond, requiring him to refrain from contacting Ms. Chen for a year. Mr. Rodriguez formally acknowledges this obligation to the court, promising to maintain peace and agreeing that if he violates the order, he will pay a set amount. Mr. Rodriguez is the recognizor, as he has made a formal, recorded promise to the court to abide by specific conditions.

• Juvenile Court Scenario: Suppose a teenager, Sarah, is involved in a minor incident and the juvenile court decides to release her into her parents' custody with certain conditions, such as attending counseling and maintaining good grades. Sarah's mother, Ms. Thompson, formally promises the court that she will ensure Sarah complies with these conditions, and agrees to a financial penalty if Sarah fails to do so. Here, Ms. Thompson is the recognizor because she has made a formal commitment to the court regarding her daughter's compliance and has undertaken a potential financial obligation if that commitment is not met.