high crime

plural high crimes

1. lawA major crime or wrongdoing, notably one subject to trial before the highest courts which may impose the gravest punishments.

   Lese majesty used to be a high crime, for which royal or imperial courts often put offenders to death.

   5 more examples

   Charles Stuart King of England. You have been accuſed on behalf of the People of England of high Treaſon and other high Crimes; the Court have determined that you ought to anſwer the ſame.

   1649 February 1, C. W., A Perfect Narrative of the Whole Proceedings of the High Court of Iustice in the Tryal of the King in Westminster Hall, on Saturday the 20. and Monday the 22. of This Instant January. […], London: Printed for John Playford, […], published 23 January 1648–1649 (Julian calendar), →OCLC, page 14

   By way of Advice, I do acquaint you that there is no Judicature in England ſuperior to this, but the Parliament immediately. You are here impeached of a very high Crime, High Treaſon; it may be a Strain of Youth: the firſt Step to Mercy is Confeſſion.

   1658 June 10, “The Tryal of John Mordant, Esq; on Tuesday the First of June, 1658. 10 Car. II.”, in [Thomas Salmon], editor, A Compleat Collection of State-Tryals, and Proceedings upon Impeachment for High Treason, and Other Crimes and Misdemeanours; […] In Four Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for Timothy Goodwin, […]; John Walthoe […]; Benj[amin] Tooke […]; John Darby […]; Jacob Tonson […]; and John Walthoe Jun. […], published 1719, →OCLC, page 814, column 1

   For, my Lords, if I have committed any Faults or Errours in Expreſſion, yet as I inſiſt upon my Innocence with reſpect to all the High Crimes laid to my Charge, ſo I muſt ſtill inſiſt upon all the Doctrines which I have taught, as being agreeable to the Word of God, and to the Doctrine of our excellent and Apoſtolical Church, and which we of the Clergy are oblig'd both by Subſcription, and Oath to acknowledge, and defend.

   1710 March 17, [Henry Sacheverell], “Tuesday, March 7 [Julian calendar]. The Eighth Day.”, in The Tryal of Dr. Henry Sacheverell, before the House of Peers, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors; […], London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 349

   The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

   1787 September 17, “[Constitution of the United States]”, in The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, retrieved 19 Jun 2019, Article II, section 4

   Treason and bribery [in the United States Constitution, Article II, section 4] have their precise definitions; other high crimes and misdemeanors have their import, but have not been legally defined, so as to include all cases which may fall under their heads. [...] A high crime is always understood to be some great offence against the State or the public; a misdemeanor is some petty offence in office, consisting of any kind of misbehaviour, or ill behaviour.

   1836 March 18, [Thomas Hart] Benton, “Expunging Resolution”, in Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Twenty-fourth Congress: […] (United States Senate), volume XII, Washington, D.C.: Printed and published by Gales and Seaton, →OCLC, column 899

   Antonyms: misdemeanour, petty crime