RETURN

The act of a sheriff, constable, or other ministerial officer, in delivering back to the court a writ, notice, or other paper, which he was required to serve or execute, with a brief account of his doings under the mandate, the time and mode of service or execution, or his failure to accomplish it, as the case may be. Also the indorsement made by the officer upon the writ or … [Read more...] about RETURN

L. Fr. An accusation or charge. St Westm. 1, c. 2. … [Read more...] about RETTE

To refile and litigate a case again, usually used in criminal law when a case was dismissed without prejudice as a result of a hung jury or error during trial. … [Read more...] about RETRY A CASE

A retrospective law is one that is to take effect, in point of time, before it was passed. 2. Whenever a law of this kind impairs the obligation of contracts, it is void. 3 Dall. 391. But laws which only vary the remedies, divest no right, but merely cure a defect in proceedings otherwise fair, are valid. … [Read more...] about RETROSPECTIVE LAW

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