bench warrant

American  

noun

Law.

1. a warrant issued or ordered by a judge or court for the apprehension of an offender.

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bench warrant British  

noun

1. a warrant issued by a judge or court directing that an offender be apprehended

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Etymology

Origin of bench warrant

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bench warrant

That led to a no-bond bench warrant, allowing law enforcement to arrest him.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

He was arrested on a bench warrant in the late morning, transferred between jails, then released just six hours later, Page Six reported.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025

But given Gaddis had no criminal record after the carjacking case was dismissed, it’s unlikely police would have prioritized arresting a defendant who was wanted on a misdemeanor bench warrant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2025

The force said a bench warrant had been issued for the arrests of Imtiaz Ahmed and Fayaz Ahmed.

From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025

Judge Taylor caught her at it one day and threatened her with a bench warrant.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee