Law Professor

Looking backwards. 2. This word is usually applied to those acts of the legislature, which are made to operate upon some subject, contract or crime which existed before the passage of the acts, and they are therefore called retrospective laws. These laws are generally unjust and are, to a certain extent, forbidden by that article in the constitution of the United States, which … [Read more...] about RETROSPECTIVE

practice. The act by which a plaintiff withdraws his. suit; it is so called from the fact that this was the principal word used when the law entries were in Latin. 2. A retraxit differs from a nonsuit, the former being the act of the plaintiff himself, for it cannot even be entered by attorney; and it must be after declaration filed; while the latter occurs in consequence of … [Read more...] about RETRAXIT

A writ that lies for the distrainor of goods (when, on replevin brought, he has proved his distress to be a lawful one) against him who was so distrained, to have them returned to him according to law, together with damages and costs. Brown. … [Read more...] about RETORNO HABENBO

1. That which is given to another to recompense him for what has been received from him; as a rent for the hire of a house. 2. A salary paid to a person for his services. 3. The distribution of rewards and punishments. This word is sometimes used in law, though not commonly in modern times, as the equivalent of "recompense," or a payment or compensation for services, property, … [Read more...] about RETRIBUTION

civil law. When the assignee of heritable rights conveys his rights back to the cedent, it is called a retrocession. … [Read more...] about RETROCESSION