Writ de Odio Et Atia

English Law: Writ de Odio et Atia in the Past

This writ is probably obsolete and superseded by the writ of habeas corpus. It was anciently directed to the sheriff (see law enforcement in the U.K. encyclopedia), commanding him to inquire whether a prisoner charged with murder was committed upon just cause or suspicion or merely propter odium et atiam, for hatred and ill-will; and, if upon the inquisition due cause of suspicion did not appear, then there issued another writ for the sheriff (see law enforcement in the U.K. encyclopedia) to admit him to bail, 3 Bl. Com. 128; Comyn’s Digest (A digest of the laws of England, 1822) Imprisonment, L 3. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about writ de odio et atia is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including writ de odio et atia.

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