Law Dictionary Definitions

first name.See personal name under NAME.[Blacks Law 8th]

first-mortgage bond.See BOND(3).[Blacks Law 8th]

first mortgage.See MORTGAGE[Blacks Law 8th]

first meeting.Archaic. Criminal law. The first contact between a killer and a victim after the killer has been informed of the victim’s insulting words or conduct that provoked the killing. • If the killing occurred during the first meeting, a murder charge could be reduced to manslaughter. See HEAT OF PASSION .[Blacks Law 8th]

first magistrate.See MAGISTRATE(1).[Blacks Law 8th]

First Lord of the Treasury.English law. The chief officer in charge of the treasury. • Today, this position is held by the Prime Minister.[Blacks Law 8th]

First Lord of the Admiralty.Hist. In Britain, a minister and one of the lord commissioners who presided over the navy. • The First Lord was assisted by other lords, called Sea Lords, and various secretaries.[Blacks Law 8th]

first instance, court of.See trial court under COURT.[Blacks Law 8th]

first lien.See LIEN.[Blacks Law 8th]

first-inventor defense.Patents. In a suit alleging infringement of a business-method patent, a statutory affirmative defense made out by showing that the defendant was using the business method commercially for at least a year before the plaintiff filed the patent application. • The First Inventor Defense Act of 1999 is codified at 35 USCA § 273(a)(3).…