arrest of judgment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Legal
Quick answer
What does “arrest of judgment” mean?
A formal motion, or the court's order granting it, to stop the legal entry of a verdict or judgment after a trial, due to a fundamental legal error appearing on the trial record.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal motion, or the court's order granting it, to stop the legal entry of a verdict or judgment after a trial, due to a fundamental legal error appearing on the trial record.
In historical or formal legal contexts, it can refer to the halting of any formal decision-making process due to a critical flaw in the procedure or the foundational facts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is recognised in both jurisdictions but is more procedurally defined and historically common in English common law. In modern US procedure, motions for 'judgment as a matter of law' (JMOL) often serve a similar but not identical purpose. The phrase remains part of the technical lexicon in both.
Connotations
Strongly connotes a formal, post-verdict, pre-judgment legal procedure based on errors apparent from the court record itself, not on new evidence.
Frequency
Very low frequency overall. Most common in historical legal texts, law school education, and formal appellate court opinions. Extremely rare outside legal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “arrest of judgment” in a Sentence
The defence moved for an arrest of judgment.The court granted the arrest of judgment.An arrest of judgment was entered on the grounds of...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arrest of judgment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The judge will arrest judgment until the cited authority is reviewed.
American English
- Counsel moved to arrest judgment on the basis of the defective indictment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in advanced legal scholarship and historical analysis of court procedures.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Exclusively used in formal legal practice, court documents, and legal education concerning criminal procedure or appellate review.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arrest of judgment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “arrest of judgment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arrest of judgment”
- Using it to mean 'a judge being arrested'.
- Using it in non-legal contexts.
- Confusing it with a 'stay of execution' which halts the carrying out of a judgment, not its entry.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The word 'arrest' here means to stop or halt. It refers to stopping the legal process of entering a formal judgment.
No. It is a highly technical legal term. Using it outside of a legal context would cause confusion.
An arrest of judgment is a motion made to the trial court immediately after a verdict but before judgment is formally entered, based on errors on the face of the record. An appeal is taken to a higher court after a final judgment is entered.
It is a recognized procedure but less common historically, as many jurisdictions have replaced it with modern rules like motions for a 'judgment of acquittal' or motions for a 'new trial', which cover similar and broader grounds.
A formal motion, or the court's order granting it, to stop the legal entry of a verdict or judgment after a trial, due to a fundamental legal error appearing on the trial record.
Arrest of judgment is usually formal, technical, legal in register.
Arrest of judgment: in British English it is pronounced /əˈrɛst əv ˈʤʌʤmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈrɛst əv ˈʤʌʤmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None (it is itself a technical term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a judge about to slam down a gavel (judgment) but a hand **arrests** its movement in mid-air, freezing it. This 'arrest' happens because of a clear error written on the court transcript.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A MACHINE / PROCEDURE. An 'arrest of judgment' is a procedural emergency stop button pressed when the machine's internal log shows a critical fault.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario would a motion for 'arrest of judgment' be most appropriate?