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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Shocks the conscience
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A quick definition of Shocks the conscience:
Shocks the conscience: When something happens that seems really unfair or wrong, it can be described as "shocking the conscience." This phrase is often used by judges to decide if they need to step in and fix the problem. If something shocks the conscience of the court, they will try to find a way to make things right. For example, if someone gets punished too harshly for a small mistake, that might shock the conscience of the court.
A more thorough explanation:
Shocks the conscience
When something is so unjust or wrong that it seems outrageous to anyone who sees it. Judges use this phrase to determine if a situation requires the court to intervene. If something shocks the conscience of the court, they will try to find a way to fix the problem.
One example of something that shocks the conscience is when a person is wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to life in prison. Another example is when a police officer uses excessive force against a suspect who is already in custody.
These examples illustrate the definition because they both involve situations that are clearly unjust and wrong. They are so extreme that they would shock anyone who saw them. In both cases, the court would need to intervene to try to fix the problem.