Law Dictionary Definitions

fugitivus (fyoo-j<<schwa>>-tI-v<<schwa>>s), n. [Latin] Roman law. A runaway slave; a fugitive.[Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive warrant.See WARRANT(1).[Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive-slave laws.Hist. Federal statutes passed in 1793 and 1850 providing for the surrender and return of slaves who had escaped and fled to a free territory or a free state. [Cases: Slaves 9.][Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive’s goods.Hist. The goods that a person forfeited as a result of fleeing.[Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive from justice.See FUGITIVE.[Blacks Law 8th]

Fugitive Felon Act.A federal statute that makes it a felony to flee across state lines to avoid state-felony prosecution or confinement, or to avoid giving testimony in a state-felony case. 18 USCA § 1073. [Cases: Escape 1. C.J.S. Escape §§ 2–3, 5–10, 12, 27, 44.][Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive-dismissal rule.The principle that an appellate court may dismiss a criminal defendant’s appeal if the defendant is a fugitive. [Cases: Criminal Law 1131(5). C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 1698–1699.][Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive-disentitlement doctrine.An equitable rule that allows a trial or appellate court to limit a fugitive’s access to civil and criminal courts in the United States. [Cases: Action 13; Criminal Law 1026.10(7). C.J.S. Actions §§ 57–63.][Blacks Law 8th]

fugitive. 1. A person who flees or escapes; a refugee. 2. A criminal suspect or a witness in a criminal case who flees, evades, or escapes arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, service of process, or the giving of testimony, esp. by fleeing the jurisdiction or by hiding. See 18 USCA § 1073. — Also termed (in sense…

fugitation (fyoo-j<<schwa>>-tay-sh<<schwa>>n).Hist. A sentence or declaration of fugitive status that was pronounced against an accused person for failing to answer a citation and appear. •The effect was that the person forfeited his or her goods and chattels. — fugitate,vb.[Blacks Law 8th]