bench warrant

noun

: a warrant issued by a presiding judge or by a court against a person guilty of contempt or indicted for a crime

Examples of bench warrant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Caudill didn’t show up, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest, court records show. Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2025 Gao had been released from custody in both matters, but failed to show up in court, resulting in bench warrants being issued for her arrest. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024 These critics point to the fact that last March, for example, Moro issued a bench warrant for Lula’s compulsory interrogation, a form of coercion that judges should use only if a suspect has refused to comply with a subpoena to testify. Geoffrey Robertson, Foreign Affairs, 19 Apr. 2017 The search turned up an outstanding 2018 bench warrant for operating a vehicle without proof of insurance. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bench warrant 

Word History

First Known Use

1680, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bench warrant was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near bench warrant

Cite this Entry

“Bench warrant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bench%20warrant. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Legal Definition

bench warrant

see warrant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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