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Bretts and Scots, Laws of the.The customary laws used by the Celtic tribes of Scotland. • Edward I of England purported to abolish the laws in the early 14th century.[Blacks Law 8th]

brethren (breth-r<<schwa>>n), n. pl. Brothers, esp. those considered spiritual kin (such as male colleagues on a court) <my brethren argue in the dissent that my statutory interpretation is faulty>. • The use of this collegial term has naturally dwindled as more women have entered law and esp. into the judiciary. Cf. SISTREN [Blacks Law 8th]

B reorganization.See REORGANIZATION(2). BREPHOTROPHUS brephotrophus (bre-fah-tr<<schwa>>-f<<schwa>>s). [Greek] Civil law. A person who manages institutions that receive and care for poor or abandoned children. • The word is Greek in origin (lit. meaning “one who feeds an infant”) and was used in late Roman law, but it first appeared in English in the 18th century. Pl.…

Brehon law (bree-h<<schwa>>n law).Hist. The ancient system of law in Ireland at the time of its conquest by Henry II. • This law was formally abolished in 1366. — Sometimes spelled Brehon Law. “[T]he Irish were governed by what they called the Brehon law, so stiled from the Irish name of judges, who were denominated…

brehon (bree-h<<schwa>>n).Hist. In Ireland, a judge.[Blacks Law 8th]

bredwite (bred-w<<schwa>>t).Hist. A penalty for not complying with regulations relating to the weight or quantity of bread.[Blacks Law 8th]

breathing room.Slang. The postbankruptcy period during which a debtor may formulate a debt-repayment plan without harassment or interference by creditors. [Cases: Bankruptcy  3533.][Blacks Law 8th]

Breathalyzer. A device used to measure the blood alcohol content of a person’s breath, esp. when the police suspect that the person was driving while intoxicated. • Breathalyzer test results are admissible as evidence if the test was properly administered. — Also termed alcoholometer; drunkometer; intoxilyzer; intoximeter. See BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT. [Cases: Automobiles  411. C.J.S.…

breast of the court.A judge’s conscience, mind, or discretion. • This phrase is a loan translation (or calque) of the Latin phrase in pectore judicis. See IN PECTORE JUDICIS.[Blacks Law 8th]

break-up fee.See TERMINATION FEE. [Blacks Law 8th]