plea in bar

Defined in 4 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910)

Definitions from Case Law

From 320 U.S. 531 - United States v. Hark · 1944Most cited · 396 citing opinions

The material question is not how the defendant's pleading is styled but the effect of the ruling sought to be reviewed; and we have, therefore, treated a motion to quash, the grant of which would bar prosecution for the offense charged, as a plea in bar within the purview of the statute.

Show all 3 Supreme Court definitions and how they changed over time 1850–1944

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

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

See "Plea." PLEA OF LIBERUIVl TENEMENTUM. A plea that at the time of the alleged trespass the plaintiffs were in the lawful possession of the premises as tenants of the defendant. 115 111. 180.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A plea which virtually admits that a cause of action once existed, but insists that the plaintiff cannot and never can maintain his action for the cause alleged. See 21 Fed. (U. S.) 218.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In practice. A plea which goes to bar the plaintiff's action; that is, to defeat it absolutely and entirely. 1 Burrill, Pr. 162; 3 BI. Comm. 303; Rawson v. Knight, 71 Me. 102; Norton v. Winter, 1 Or. 48, 62 Am. Dec. 297; Wilson v. Knox Co.unty, 132 Mo. 387, 34 S. W. 45.

Defined under Plea in Black's Law Dictionary.