Legal Definitions - backing

Definition: Backing refers to an endorsement, especially of a warrant by a magistrate.

When a magistrate signs a warrant issued in one county to permit its execution in another county, it is called backing. This endorsement indicates that the warrant is valid and can be executed in the signing magistrate's county. In the past, a fresh warrant was required for every fresh county, but now the practice of backing warrants is commonly observed and is sanctioned by law.

• When the judge backed the warrant, it became valid for execution in the other county.
• The police officer requested the backing of the warrant to arrest the suspect in a different county.

These examples illustrate how a magistrate endorses a warrant by signing it, indicating that it is valid and can be executed in another county. This process is called backing.