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Review

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889), Abbott (1879)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

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

A second examination of a matter; ordinarily applied to a re-examination of a judicial or official determination. It is a general term, embracing re-examination obtained by every variety of procedure, as by motion for new trial, appeal, writ of error, bill of review, etc.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

See Bill of review; Writ of review.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

In Practice. A second examination of a matter. For example, by the laws of Pennsylvania, the courts having jurisdiction of the subject may grant an order for a view of a proposed road; the reviewers make a report, which, when confirmed by the court, would authorize the laying out of the same. After this, by statutory provision, the parties may apply for a review or second examination, and the last viewers may make a different report. For the practice of reviews in chancery, see Bill of Review. The criticism of a publication. See Criticism; Libel.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A reconsideration; second view or examination; revision ; consideration for purposes of correction. Used especially of the examination of a cause by an appellate court, and of a second investigation of a proposed publlc road by a jury of viewers. See Weehawken Wharf Co. v. Knickerbocker Coal Co., 25 Misc. Rep. 309, 54 N. Y. Supp 566; State v. Main, 69 Conn. 123, 37 Atl. 80, 36 In R. A. 623, 61 Am. St. Rep. 30.

Bill of review. In equity practice. A bill, in the nature of a writ of error, filed to procure an examination and alteration or reversal of a decree made upon a former bill, which decree has been signed and enrolled. Story, Eq. PI. § 403.

Commission of review. In English ecclesiastical law. A commission formerly sometimes granted, in extraordinary cases, to revise the sentence of the court of delegates, when it was apprehended they had been led into a materini error. 3 Bl. Comm. 07.

Court of review. In England. A court established by 1 & 2 Wm. IV. c. 56, for the adjudicating upon such matters in bankruptcy as before were within the jurisdiction of the lord chancellor. It was abolished in 1847.

Reviewing taxation. The re-taxing or re-examining an attorney's bill of costs by the master. The courts sometimes order the masters to review their taxation, when, on being applied to for that purpose, it appears that items have been allowed or disallowed on some erroneous principle, or under some mistaken impression. 1 Archb. Pr. K. B. 55.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A bill in equity, to obtain a re-examination and reversal of a deeree, filed BILL IN NATURE OF A BILL OF

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

Viewing again: a second consideration; revisement, reconsideration, re-examination to correct, if necessary, a previous examination. 1. A re-examination for report upon the /line of a highway as recommended hy a jury of "viewers." The persons who make this second view are called "reviewers," and compose the "jury of review." See View. 3. The revision of a judicial act. Bill of revie'w. A proceeding in a court of equity by which the defendant may have a decree against him reviewed for error upon its face. A^formal mode of rehearing the case, incidental to the original suit.^ A bill in the nature of a writ of error; its object is to procure an examination, and alteration or reversal, of a decree made upon a former bill, after such decree has been signed and enrolled.2 If the decree is not enrolled, a " biU in the nature of a bill of review," or a *' supplemental bill in the nature of a bill in review,"- is appropriate.' May be had upon error apparent upon the face of the decree; or,, by special leave of the court, upon oath made of the discbvery of new evidence, which could not possibly be had or used when the decree Lies for error in point of law apparent upon the record, or for some new matter of fact, relevant to the case, discovered since publication passed, and which could not, with reasonali)le diligence, have been discovered before. To enable the court to judge of the propriety of granting a rehearing, the petition must state the grounds upon which it is asked. The petitioner must also show that he has performed the decree, especiall.v as regards the payment of money and costs.'' "No bill of review shall be admitted unless the party first obeys and performs the decree, and enters into a recognizance with sureties, to satisfy the costs ' [Bush V. United States, 13 F. R, 628 (1883), Deady, D. J.: s. c. 8 Saw, 336. ' Story, Eq. PI. § 403. s 3 Bl. Com. 454. and damages for the delay if it be found against him." ' There is no universal and absolute rule which prohibits the court from allowing the introduction of newly -discovered evidence to prove facts which were in issue on the former hearing. The allowance is not a matter of right, hut of sound discretion, to be exercised cautiously and sparingly, and only under circumstances which demonstrate that it is indispensable to the merits and justice of the cause.' The bill will be refused, if productive of mischief to innocent parties, or for other cause sufficient to the court. 3 The only questions open for examination on a bill for error of law appearing upon the record are such as arise on the pleadings, proceedings, and decree, without reference to the evidence in the cause.^ A bill must ordinarily be brought within the time limited by statute for taking an appeal from the decree sought to be reviewed, where the review is not founded on matters discovered since the decree.® Court of review. A court whose distinctive function is to pass upon (ai Brming or reversing) the final decisions of another or other courts. 3. To examine a literary production and express (usually publish) an opinion as to its merits. A reviewer may fairly cite largely from the original work, if his design is to use the passages for the purpose of fair and reasonable criticism. But if he thus cites the most important p^ts of the work, with a view, not to criticise, but to supersede the use of the original work, and substitute the review, such use will be deemed a-piracy." Where an action of libel respects a comment in a newspaper on a matter of public interest, the case is not one of privilege, properly so called, and it is not necessary, in order to give a cause of action, that actual malice be proved. The question whether the comment is or is not actionable depends upon whether,- in the opinion of the jurj', it goes beyond the limits of fair criticism. •' Whatever is fair and can be reasonably said of the works of an author or of himself as connected with his work, is not actionable, unless it appears that, under the pretext of criticising the ' Davis V. Speiden, 104 U. S. 84-86 (1881), cases: Bacon's Law Tracts, 280. 'Wood V. Mann, 2 Sumn. 334, 318-33 (18.S6), cases. Story, J-; Craig v. Smith, 100 U. S. 234 (1879), Waite, Chief Justice. "Story, Eq. PI. §417; Purcell v. Miner, 4 Wall. 521 (1866); Bicker v. Powell, 100 U. S. 107 (1879), cases- ' Shelton v. Van Kleeek, 106 U. S. 534 (1882), cases. See also Irwin v. Meyrose, 2 Mc Crary, 244, 260 (1881),, cases; Willamet Bridge Co. v. Hatch, 19 F. R. 347 (1884). ii Ensminger v. Powers, 108 U. S. 302 (1883), cases; Taylor v. Charter Oak Life Ins. Co., 3 Mc Crary, 4S6 (1882), cases: s. c. 17 F. R. 566. work, the defendant took an opportunity of attacking the character of the author: then it will be iibel." ' See Abridge, 1; Dhama.

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

v. To examine a second time; to reconsider or revise; to consider for the purpose of correction. Review, n.: a second consideration; an examination to correct; revision. In a very prominent use of these words they are applied to the action of a higher court or tribunal in re-examining or reconsidering decisions of a lower one. In this use various methods of bringing a cause up to be reviewed are recognized, — appeal, writ of error, rehearing, re-examination by a master, &c.

In another sense, review is one head of the jurisdiction of courts of equity; and a bill known as a bill of review may be filed to reverse a decree which, after it has been duly enrolled, a party may find good grounds for having reversed, either from error apparent on the face of it, or from new facts discovered since the decree was made, or at least since publication passed in the cause, and which consequently could not be used when the decree was made. Under the highway laws of some of the states, there is, at the outset of a petition to establish a road, an appointment of a jury of view, who view the proposed line of a highway asked for, and report upon its desirability; and, if their report is not satisfactory, a jury of review is appointed, who investigate the question again, and are called reviewers. A court known as the court of review was established by 1 & 2 Wm. IV. ch. 56, for the adjudicating upon such matters in bankruptcy as before were within the jurisdiction of the lord chancellor. It formed a constituent and most important part of the court of chancery, and exercised a general jurisdiction in bankruptcy, the same as had theretofore been exercised by the lord chancellor; and all such matters to be heard and determined in the court of review were to be subject to an appeal to the lord chancellor on matters of law and equity, or on the refusal or admission of evidence. This court has long ceased to exist, and been superseded by an appeal to the lords justices in chancery, or (in matters of unusual legal importance) to the lord chancellor and lords justices together. Brown. Reviewing taxation. The re-taxing or re-examining an attorney's bill of costs by the master. The courts sometimes order the masters to review their taxation, when, on being applied to for that purpose, it appears that items have been allowed or disallowed on some erroneous principle, or under some mistaken impression. Arch. Pract.