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civil death
civil death definition - legal
n
- Historically, the loss of all civil rights by a person who had been sentenced to death or declared an outlaw for committing a felony or treason. This included the loss of right to contract, the right to sue, and the right to protection under the law. See also attainder and bill of attainder.
- Today, the loss of certain civil rights, such as the right to vote by a person convicted of or sentenced to imprisonment for a felony. The rights lost, and for what crimes or sentences, varies state to state.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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