High misdemeanor

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High Misdemeanor is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisions, neglects and contempts. The most important example being that of maladministration in high office.

1 Examples in English Law
2 References
3 Notes
4 See also

[edit] Examples in English Law

A number of United Kingdom Statutes refer to particular crimes as being high misdemeanors:

Discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm the Sovereign ^[1]
Where a Roman Catholic advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Established Church ^[2]
Where a Jew advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Churches of England, Ireland and Scotland ^[3]

Blackstone describes a number of offences as being high misdemeanors, for example:

treasonable words
receiving stolen goods
prison break
maladministration of high office
firing of one's house in a town

A number of statutory references to high misdemeanors have subsequently been repealed, including:

The conviction of a Returning officer for corrupt practices during an election to the Parliament of Ireland ^[4]

[edit] References

Halsbury's Laws of England
Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England

[edit] Notes

^ Section 4, Treason Act 1852
^ Section 18, Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
^ Section 4, Jews Relief Act 1848
^ Section 25, Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1820 and Section 75, Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823