Law Dictionary Definitions

bishop’s court. 1. An ecclesiastical court usu. held in the diocese cathedral and presided over by the bishop’s chancellor. 2.Hist. Eccles. law. (cap.) A court (usu.) held in the cathedral of a diocese, the judge being the bishop’s chancellor, who applied civil canon law. • The jurisdiction included appeals from the Court of Archdeacon. In…

bishopric (bish-<<schwa>>-prik).1.DIOCESE. 2. The office of a bishop. [Blacks Law 8th]

bishop. The chief superintendent and highest-ranking member of the clergy within a diocese. • The bishop is subject to the archbishop of a province. [Cases: Religious Societies  27. C.J.S. Religious Societies § 43.] “[A] bishop … has several courts under him, and may visit at pleasure every part of his diocese. His chancellor is appointed…

bi-scot.Hist. English law. A fine imposed for not repairing banks, ditches, and causeways.[Blacks Law 8th]

BIS.abbr.BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY. [Blacks Law 8th]

birth records.Statistical data kept by a governmental entity concerning people’s birthdates, birthplaces, and parentage. [Cases: Health  397.][Blacks Law 8th]

birth parent.See PARENT.[Blacks Law 8th]

birth mother.See MOTHER. [Blacks Law 8th]

birth injury.Harm that occurs to a fetus during the birth process, esp. during labor and delivery. Cf. PRENATAL INJURY.[Blacks Law 8th]

birth father.See biological father under FATHER.[Blacks Law 8th]