Law Dictionary Definitions

bright-line rule.A legal rule of decision that tends to resolve issues, esp. ambiguities, simply and straightforwardly, sometimes sacrificing equity for certainty.[Blacks Law 8th]

brigbote (brig-boht), n. Hist. An obligation, often extracted as a tax or a charge on land, to contribute to the cost of maintaining castles, walls, and bridges.[Blacks Law 8th]

brigandage (brig-<<schwa>>n-dij).Archaic. Plundering and banditry carried out by bands of robbers. • Piracy is sometimes called “maritime brigandage.”[Blacks Law 8th]

brieve of mortancestry.See MORT D’ANCESTOR.[Blacks Law 8th]

brieve.Hist. Scots law. A chancery writ ordering that a trial be held on the matters specified in the writ. • By the late 20th century, brieves were rarely used except in proceedings to appoint a curator for an incompetent person.[Blacks Law 8th]

brief-writing. The art or practice of preparing legal briefs. — Also termed brief-making. — brief-writer,n.[Blacks Law 8th]

brief of title.See ABSTRACT OF TITLE. [Blacks Law 8th]

brief of argument.See BRIEF(1). [Blacks Law 8th]

briefing attorney.See ATTORNEY. [Blacks Law 8th]

brief,n.1. A written statement setting out the legal contentions of a party in litigation, esp. on appeal; a document prepared by counsel as the basis for arguing a case, consisting of legal and factual arguments and the authorities in support of them. — Also termed legal brief; brief of argument. [Cases: Appeal and Error  756;…