- color of law
-
n.The appearance of legal authority without the substance; something that appears to have the authority of law but in fact does not.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
- color of law
-
Conduct based upon what appears to be a legal right or enforcement of statute, but in reality is a violation of law, such as issuing phony traffic tickets in order to raise revenue or extort payoffs.Category: Criminal LawCategory: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
- color of law
-
n. The conduct of a police officer, judge, or another person clothed with governmental authority that, although it superficially appears to be within the individual's lawful power, is actually in contravention of the law. For example, a police officer who makes a false arrest while on duty, or while off duty but when they are wearing a uniform or badge, is acting under color of law. In some circumstances, the phrase also applies to the conduct of private individuals that is specifically authorized or approved by a statute. Depriving a person of his or her federal civil rights under color of law is, in and of itself, a federal crime and a ground for a cause of action. Also called under color of law.If the conduct violates a federal civil right or criminal law, it is also called state action.See also color of title.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
- color of law
-
The appearance of a legal right.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
- color of law
-
The appearance of a legal right.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
- color of law
-
n.the appearance of an act being performed based upon legal right or enforcement of statute, when in reality no such right exists. An outstanding example is found in the civil rights acts which penalize law enforcement officers for violating civil rights by making arrests "under color of law" of peaceful protesters or to disrupt voter registration. It could apply to phony traffic arrests in order to raise revenue from fines or extort payoffs to forget the ticket.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.