bias

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Anderson (1889)

Definitions from Case Law

From 282 U.S. 687 - Alford v. United States · 1931Most cited · 2,887 citing opinions

petitioner was entitled to show by cross examination that his testimony was affected by fear or favor growing out of his detention. Even if the witness were charged with some other offense by the prosecuting authorities, petitioner was entitled to show by cross examination that his testimony was affected by fear or favor growing out of his detention

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

A particular influential power which sways the judgment; the inclination or propensity of the mind towards a particular object. "Bias is not synonymous with 'prejudice.' A man cannot be prejudiced against another without being biased, but he may be biased without being prejudiced." 12 Ga. 444.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Prejudice. See 9 Am. St. Rep. 745.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

A particular influential power which sways the judgment; the inclination or propensity of the mind towards a particular object; adopted in Willis v. State, 12 Ga. 449. Justice requires that the judge should have no bias for or against any individual. and that his mind should be perfectly free to act as the law requires. There is, however, one kind of bias which the courts suffer to influence them in their judgments: it is a bias favorable to a class of cases, or persons, as distinguished from an individual case or person. A few examples will explain this. A bias is felt on account of convenience; 1 Ves. Sen. 13; 3 Atk. 524. It is also felt in favor of the heir at law, as when there is an heir on one side and a mere volunteer on the other; 1 W. Bla. 256; 1 Ball & B. 309; 1 Wils. 310. On the other hand, the court leans against double portions for children; 13 Price 599; against double provisions, and double satisfactions; 3 Atk. 421; and against forfeitures; 3 Term 172.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Inclination; bent; prepossession; a preconceived opinion; a predisposition to decide a cause or an issue in a certain way, which does not leave the mind perfectly open to conviction. Maddox v. State, 32 Ga. 587, 79 Am. Dec. 307; Pierson v. State, 18 Tex. App. 558; Hinkle v. State, 94 Ga. 595, 21 S. E. 601. This term is not synonymous with "prejudice." By the use of this word in a statute declaring disqualification of jurors, the legislature intended to describe another and somewhat different ground of disqualification. A man cannot be prejudiced against another without being biased against him ; but be may be biased without being prejudiced. Bias is "a particular influential power, which sways the judgment; the inclination of the mind towards a particular object." It is not to be supposed that the legislature expected to secure in the juror a state of mind absolutely free from nil inclination to one side or the other. The statute means that, although a juror has not formed a judgment for or agninst the prisoner, before the evidence is heard on the trial, yet, if he is under such an influence as so sways his mind to the one side or the other as to prevent his deciding the cause according to the evidence, he is incompetent. Willis v. State, 12 Ga. 444. Actual bias consists in the existence of a state of mind on the part of the juror which satisfies the court, in the exercise of a sound discretion, that the juror cannot try the issues impartially and without prejudice to the substantial rights of the party challenging. State v. Chapman, 1 S. D. 414, 47 N. W. 4ll, 10 In R. A. 432; People v. MicQuade, 110 N. Y. 284, 18 N. E. 156, 1 L. In A. 273; People v. Welle, 100 Cal. 227, 34 Pac. 718. '

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

A leaning or inclination in favor of a particular

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

Inclination of mind toward a particular object; an influential power which sways the judgment.^ In a juror, being under an influence which so sways his mind to one side as to prevent his deciding the cause according to the evidence.^ Not synonymous with prejudice. May show bias in a witness by relationship, sympathy, hostility, or prejudice. See Impartial, 1; Prejudice.