Legal Definitions - ornest

Definition: ORNEST is a historical term that refers to trial by combat. This was a legal process in which two disputing parties would fight a personal battle to determine the outcome of a case. The idea was that God would give victory to the person who was in the right.

This practice was common in Europe and England during the Middle Ages. It was introduced into England by the Normans after 1066, but it was not widely used and was widely detested. It became obsolete several centuries before being formally abolished in 1818. It was replaced in practice by the grand assize and indictment.

Examples: A common example of ORNEST was a trial in which the person accused fought with the accuser. The winner of the battle was considered to be in the right and would be declared the winner of the case. For example, if two knights were disputing over a piece of land, they might engage in a personal battle to determine who had the rightful claim to the land.

Another example of ORNEST was a trial by duel. In this type of trial, the disputing parties would fight a personal battle with weapons to determine the outcome of the case. For example, if two men were disputing over a woman's honor, they might engage in a duel to determine who was telling the truth.

These examples illustrate how ORNEST was a violent and often deadly way of resolving legal disputes. It was based on the belief that God would intervene to ensure that the person who was in the right would win the battle. However, this practice was widely criticized and eventually fell out of use.