BILL

A formal declaration, complaint, or statement of particular things in writing. As a legal term, this word has many meanings and applications, the more important of which are enumerated below. 1. A formal written statement of complaint to a court of justice. In the ancient practice of the court of king’s bench, the usual and orderly method of beginning an action was by a Mil, or original billies plaint. This was a written statement of the plaintiffs cause of action, like a declaration or complaint, and always alleged a trespass as the ground of it, In order to give the court jurisdiction. 3 Bl. Comm. 43. In Scotch law, every summary application in writing, by way of petition to the Court of Session, Is called a “bill.” Cent Diet jBill chamber. In Scotch law. A department of the court of session in which petitions for suspension, interdict, etc, are entertained. It is equivalent to sittings in chambers in the English and American practice. Paters. Comp. Bill of privilege. In old English law. A method of proceeding against attorneys and officers of the court not liable to arrest. 3 BL Comm. 289. Bill of proof. In English practice. The name given, in the mayor’s court of London, to a species of intervention by a third person laying claim to the subject matter in dispute between the parties to a suit 2. A species of writ; a formal written nature of process. Bill of Middlesex. An old form of process similar to a capias, issued out of the court of king’s bench in personal actions, directed to the sheriff of the county of Middlesex, (hence the name,) and commanding him to take the defendant and have him before the king at Westminster on a day named, to answer the plaintiff’s complaint. State v. Mathews, 2 Brev (S. C.) 83: Sims v. Alderson, 8 Leigh (Va.) 484. 3. A formal written petition to a superior a petition. Bill of advocation. In Scotch practice. A bill by which the judgment of an inferior court is appealed from, or brought under review of a superior. Bell. Bill of certiorari. A bill, the object of which is to remove a suit in equity from some inferior court to the court of chancery, or some other superior court of equity, on account of some alleged incompetency of the inferior court, or some injustice in its proceedings. Story, Eq. PL (5th Ed.)