High misdemeanor

High Misdemeanor is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisions, neglects and contempts. The most important example being that of maladministration in high office.

Examples in English Law

A number of United Kingdom Statutes refer to particular crimes as being high misdemeanors:

* Discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm the Sovereign ref|ta1842
* Where a Roman Catholic advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Established Church ref|rca1829
* Where a Jew advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Churches of England, Ireland and Scotland ref|jra1848

Blackstone describes a number of offences as being high misdemeanors, for example:

* treasonable words
* receiving stolen goods
* prison break
* maladministration of high office
* firing of one's house in a town

A number of statutory references to high misdemeanors have subsequently been repealed, including:
* The conviction of a Returning officer for corrupt practices during an election to the Parliament of Ireland ref|pei

References

*Halsbury's Laws of England
*Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England

Notes

# Section 2, Treason Act 1842
# Section 18, Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
# Section 4, Jews Relief Act 1858
# Section 25, Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1820 and Section 75, Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823

ee also

* High crime
* High crimes and misdemeanours