Legal Definitions - colore officii

Definition: Colore officii (pronounced kuh-lor-ee uh-fish-ee-eye) is a Latin term that means "by color of office." It refers to the authority or power that comes with holding a public office.

When someone acts under the color of an office, they are using the authority entrusted to that office to carry out their actions. For example, a police officer who arrests someone is acting under the color of their office.

One important thing to note is that acts taken under the color of an office may only appear to be vested with authority. In some cases, the person may be acting outside of their actual authority, which could lead to legal consequences.

For instance, if a judge takes a bribe from someone who has a case before them, they are acting under the color of their office. However, this is illegal and could result in the judge facing criminal charges.

Example: A mayor who uses their position to award a contract to a friend's company is acting under the color of their office. This is because they are using their authority as a public official to benefit someone they know personally.

Explanation: In this example, the mayor is using their position to give an advantage to someone they have a personal relationship with. This is an abuse of their authority and is not in the best interest of the public they are supposed to serve. It is an example of acting under the color of an office for personal gain.