character

Defined in 6 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Black's (1891)

Definitions from Case Law

From 487 U.S. 164 - Franklin v. Lynaugh · 1988Most cited · 1,214 citing opinions

when we have held that a defendant's "character" is a relevant consideration in capital sentencing.

Show all 2 Supreme Court definitions and how they changed over time 1873–1988

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

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

In evidence. The opinion generally entertained of a person derived from the common report of the.people who are acquainted with him. 3 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 336; 3 Mass. 192; 3 Esp. 236; 40 Neb. 810. In its technical use, the word has lost its ordinary significance, and in such use is synonymous with "repute." The moral character and conduct of a person in society may be used in proof before a jury in three classes of cases: First, to afford a presumption that a particular party has not been guilty of a criminal act (17 Mich. 9; 14 Mo. 502); second, to affect the damages in particular cases, where their amount depends on the character and conduct of any individual (30 N. Y. 285; 8 Iowa, 29; 4 Gush. [Mass.] 217); and, third, to impeach or confirm the veracity of a witness (16 Ohio St. 218; 7 N. Y. 378).

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

The qualities which constitute the individual. See 130 Am. St. Rep. (111.) 288.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

The aggregate of the moral qualities which belong to and distinguish an individual person; the general resuit of the one's distinguishing attributes. That moral predisposition or habit, or aggregate of ethical qualities, which is believed to attach to a person, on the strength of the common opinion and report concerning him. The opinion generally entertained of a persen derived from the common report of the people who are acquainted with him. Smith v. State, 88 Ala. 73, 7 South. 52; State v. Turner, 36 S. C. 534, 15 S. E. 602; Fahnestock v. Sinte, 23 Ind. 238; State v. Parker, 96 Mo. 382, 9 S. W. 728; Sullivan v. State, 66 Ala. 48; Kimmel v. Kimmel, 3 Serg. & R. (Pa) 337, 8 Am. Dec. 672. Character and reputation are not synonymous terms. Character is what a man or woman is morally, while reputation is what he or she is reputed to be. Yet reputation la the estimate which the community has of a person's character ; and it is the belief that moral character is wanting in an individual that renders him unworthy of belief; that is to say, that reputation is evidence of character, and if the reputation is bad for truth, or reputation is bad in, other respects affecting the moral character, then the jury may infer that the character is bad and the witness not reliable. General character has always been proved by proving general reputation. Leverich v. Frank, 6 Or. 213. The word "character" no doubt has an objective and subjective import, which are quite distinct. As to the object, character is its quni-ity. As to man, it is the quality of his mind, and his affections, his capacity and temperament. But as a subjective term, certainly in the minds of others, one's character is the aggregate, or the abstract of other men's opinions of one. And in this sense when a witness speaks of the character of another witness for truth, he draws not upon his memory alone, but his judgment also. It is the conclusion of the mind of the witness, in summing up the amount of all the reports he has heard of the man, and declaring his character for truth, as held in the minds of his neighbors and acquaintances, and in this sense character, general character, and general report or reputation are the same, as held in the books. Powers v. Leach, 26 Vt. 278.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

The qualities of mind or morals, pressed on a person by nature or by from other persons; secondarily, and qualities he is believed to have, — more V. General; Good.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

The aggregate of the moral qualities which belong to and distinguish an individual person; the general result of the one's distinguishing attributes. That moral predisposition or habit, or aggregate of ethical qualities, which is believed to attach to a person, on the strength of the common opinion and report concerning him. The opinion generally entertained of a person derived from the common report of the people who are acquainted with him. 4 Serg. & R. 336; 3 Mass. 192. Character and reputation are not synonymous terms. Character is what a man or woman is morally, while reputation is what he or she is reputed to be. Yet reputation is the estimate which the community has of a person's character; and it is the belief that moral character is wanting in an individual that renders him unworthy of belief; that is to say, that reputation is evidence of character, and if the reputation is bad for truth, or reputation is bad in other respects affecting the moral character, then the jury may infer that the character is bad and the witness not reliable. General character has always been proved by proving general reputation. 6 Or. 218. The word "character" no doubt has an objective and subjective import, which are quite distinct. As to the object, character is its quality. As to man, it is the quality of his mind, and his affections, his capacity and temperament. But as a subjective term, certainly in the minds of others, one's character is the aggregate, or the abstract, of other men's opinions of one. And in this sense, when a witness speaks of the character of another witness for truth, he draws not upon his memory alone, but his judgment also. It is the conclusion of the mind of the witness, in summing up the amount of all the reports he has heard of the man, and declaring his character for truth, as held in the minds of his neighbors and acquaintances, and in this sense character, general character, and general report or reputation are the same, as held in the books. 26 Vt. 278.