Attainder

English Criminal Law. Attinctura, the stain or corruption of blood which arises from being condemned for any crime.

Attainder by confession, is either by pleading guilty at the bar before the judges, and not putting one's self on one's trial by a jury; or before the coroner in sanctuary, when in ancient times, the offender was obliged to abjure the realm.

Attainder by verdict, is when the prisoner at the bar pleads not guilty to the indictment, and is pronounced guilty by the verdict of the jury.

Attainder by process or outlawry, is when the party flies, and is subsequently outlawed.

Bill Of Attainder, is a bill brought into parliament for attainting persons condemned for high treason. The U.S. Constitution Art. I, sect. IX, 3, provides that no bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.