The Law Dictionary

Your Free Online Legal Dictionary • Featuring Black’s Law Dictionary, 2nd Ed.

RULE, Definition & Legal Meaning

Definition & Citations:

v. This verb has two significations: (1) to command or require by a rule of court; as, to rule the sheriff to return the writ, to rule the defendant to plead. (2) To settle or decide a point of law arising upon a trial at nisi prius; and, when it is said of a judge presiding at such a trial that he “ruled” so and so, it is meant that he laid down, settled, or decided such and such to be the law.

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