Definition of DEGREE in Black's Law Dictionary 4th Edition – Legal dictionary – Glossary of legal terms.
Definition of DEGREE
In General
The state or civil condition of a person, State v. Bishop, 15 Me. 122; An honorable state or condition to which a student is advanced in testimony of proficiency in arts and sciences. Commonwealth v. New England College of Chiropractic, 221 Mass. 190, 108 N.E. 895, 896; The grade or distance one thing may be removed from another. Superior Lloyds of America v. Foxworth, Tex. Civ.App., 178 S.W.2d 724, 725.
They are of pontifical origin. See 1 Schmidt, Thesaurus, 144; Vicat, Doctores; Minshew, Diet. Bacheler; Merlin Repertoire Univ.; Van Espen. pt. 1, tit. 10; Giannone, Istoria di Napoli, lib. xi. c. 2, for a full account of this matter
In the Law of Descent and Family Relations
A step or grade, i. e., the distance, or number of removes, which separates two persons who are related by consanguinity. Thus we speak of a brother as being in the second degree of kindred. Calvert v. Beck, 240 Ala. 442, 199 So. 846, 847.
In Criminal Law
The term "degree" denotes a division or classification of one specific crime into several grades or stadia of guilt, according to the circumstances attending its commission. Thus, in some states, there may be "murder in the second degree."
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That's the definition of DEGREE in Black's Law Dictionary 4th Edition – Legal dictionary – Glossary of legal terms. Courtesy of Cekhukum.com.
