jailhouse lawyer

American

[jeyl-hous law-yer, loi-er] / ˈdʒeɪlˌhaʊs ˈlɔ yər, ˈlɔɪ ər /

noun

a prisoner who has studied law on their own while serving time, is knowledgeable about technical legal matters, and gives legal advice, especially to fellow prisoners.

Etymology

Origin of jailhouse lawyer

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30;

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Martinez spent the next three decades filing writs, appeals and petitions as a self-taught jailhouse lawyer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2024

With a new attitude, he began visiting the prison law library, where he met Michael “Minkah” Norwood, Lewisburg’s legendary jailhouse lawyer.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2023

At the same time, he is haunted by the pleas of those he left behind, some of whom see this former jailhouse lawyer as their best hope.

From Washington Times • Feb. 8, 2020

While serving a 12-year sentence for bank robbery, he became a jailhouse lawyer and managed to get two cases in front of the United States Supreme Court.

From New York Times • Oct. 16, 2018

His first big victory as a jailhouse lawyer came on behalf of Julio Acevedo, in 1997.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 13, 2016

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023