Legal Definitions - reddidit se

Reddidit se is a historical legal term originating from Latin, meaning "he has rendered himself." It refers to a person who personally appeared in court or before the proper authority to fulfill the conditions of their bail, thereby discharging the bail obligation.

In simpler terms, when someone was released from custody after promising to appear in court (often by providing a financial guarantee known as bail), their personal appearance at the required time and place meant they had "rendered themselves" to the court. This act satisfied the bail agreement, ensuring the person would not forfeit the bail money or require a surety (someone who guaranteed their appearance) to pay it.

Here are a few examples illustrating this historical concept:

• Imagine a blacksmith in 17th-century England accused of a minor property dispute. He was released from jail after his brother posted bail, promising the court that the blacksmith would appear for his trial. On the scheduled court date, the blacksmith personally walked into the courtroom and presented himself to the judge. By doing so, he acted as a reddidit se, fulfilling the bail condition and relieving his brother of any financial responsibility.

• Consider a sailor in a colonial port town who was arrested for a street brawl. A local merchant, knowing the sailor, put up bail money to secure his release, with the understanding that the sailor would appear for his hearing. When the sailor, despite having the opportunity to flee, personally reported to the magistrate's office on the appointed morning, he was considered a reddidit se. His appearance discharged the bail, meaning the merchant's money was no longer at risk of forfeiture.

• In a historical scenario, a defendant might have been released on bail but inadvertently missed their initial court date due to illness. The court might have issued a warrant for their arrest and begun proceedings to forfeit their bail. However, if the defendant, upon recovering, personally appeared before the court before the forfeiture was finalized, they would be deemed a reddidit se. This personal appearance would satisfy the bail terms, preventing the loss of the bail money and potentially avoiding further legal complications.