Contumacy

Defined in 6 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889), Stimson (1881), Burrill (1850)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

Contemptuous disobedience of a judicial order.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

The refusal or intentional omission of a person who has bcen duly cited before a court to appear and defend the charge laid against him, or, if he is duly before the court, to obey some lawful order or direction made in the cause. In the former case it is called "presumed" contumacy; in the latter, "actual." The term is chiefly used in ecclesiastical law. See 3 Curt. Eco 1.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

The refusal or intentional omission of a person who has been duly cited before acourt to appear and defend the charge laid against him, or, if he is duly before the cvurt, to obey some lawful order or direction made in the cause. In the former case it is called “presumed” contumacy; in the latter, “actual.” The term is chietly used in ecclesiastical law. Seeds Curt. Ecc. 1,

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

io Refusal or neglect to appear or to answer in a court; contempt for ■ White, Ld. Cas. CO; 1 Ld. Cas. Eq. 100; 13 Am. Law Reg. 539. 2 Bailey v. Bussing, 28 Conn.'468-61 (1S59), cases; The Atlas, 93 U. S. 315 (1876), cases; The Hudson, 16 F. B. 1B7 (1883), cases; 13 Bradw. 665. = Men-yweather v. Nixon, 3 Sm. L. C. 483, 480, cases; Chicago City v. Eobbins, 3 Blacl!;, 418 (1862); Eobbins V. Chicago City, 4 Wall. 657 (1866). « Clinton, &c. R. Co. v. Dunn, 59 Iowa, 619 (1882), cases; Cooley, Torts, p. 145. ^ Pullman Palace Car Co. v. Missom-i Pacific R. Co., 3 Mc Crary, 647 (1882). s Chicago Dock Co. v. Garrity, 115 111. 164 (1886). 'Barber v. Kennedy, 18 Minn. 326 (1873); 33 id. 360; 77 Va. 125. » Constitution, Art. Ill, sec. 2;. 3 Dall. 431-32; 109 U. S. 477; Stoiy, Const. § 1668. s Gaines v. Fuentes, 93 U. S. 20 (1876), Field, J.; Searl the order of a court or legislature. Whence contumacious. See Contempt.

Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

Contempt of court; persistent

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

[Lat. contumacia, contumacitas.] In practice. Disobedience to the rules or orders of a court, especially a refusal to appear in court when legally summoned. Wharton's Lex. Used as a synonyme of contempt, although it seems properly to have a stronger meaning, as of open contempt, or contempt wilfully and stubbornly persisted in. Reg. Orig. 65. Bract. fol. 127 b.