High misdemeanor

High misdemeanor is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisions, neglects and contempts. A good example of this is treason. The most important example may be that of maladministration in high office.

A number of United Kingdom statutes refer to particular crimes as being high misdemeanors:

• Discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm the Sovereign ^[1]
• Where a Roman Catholic advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Established Church ^[2]
• Where a Jew advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Churches of England, Ireland and Scotland ^[3]

Blackstone describes a number of offences as being high misdemeanors, for example:

• treasonable words
• receiving stolen goods
• prison break
• maladministration of high office
• firing of one's house in a town

A number of statutory references to high misdemeanors have subsequently been repealed, including:

• The conviction of a returning officer for corrupt practices during an election to the Parliament of Ireland ^[4]

• High crimes and misdemeanours

• ^ Section 2, Treason Act 1842
• ^ Section 18, Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
• ^ Section 4, Jews Relief Act 1858
• ^ Section 25, Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1820 and Section 75, Parliamentary Elections (Ireland) Act 1823

• Halsbury's Laws of England
• Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England