lynch law

American  

noun

1. the administration of summary punishment, especially death, upon a suspected, accused, or convicted person by a mob acting without legal process or authority.

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lynch law British  

noun

1. the practice of condemning and punishing a person by mob action without a proper trial

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lynch law Cultural  

1. The punishment of supposed criminals, especially by hanging, by agreement of a crowd and without a genuine criminal trial. Lynch law was used in the early settlement of the West as a way of maintaining minimal law and order before a sheriff and courts could be set up. It has also been used to deprive unpopular suspects of their rights and to satisfy a mob's thirst for vengeance. Lynch law was often used by whites in the South to terrorize and subjugate blacks.

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Etymology

Origin of lynch law

1805–15, after the self-instituted tribunals presided over by William Lynch (1742–1820) of Pittsylvania, Va., c1776

Example Sentences

“Police officers are carrying out lynch law right on the streets of American cities.”

From New York Times

This is the racial logic of lynch law, slavery and Jim Crow.

From Salon

His warning against “lynch law” administered by a jury or “by a mob intent on death” was vindicated when Frank was, in fact, lynched by an anti-Semitic mob.

From Washington Post

A senior Russian lawmaker denounces Washington’s response to the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in Britain as “lynch law.”

From Washington Times

Where people have the right of trial in a legally constituted court of law, they must refrain from mob rule or from lynch law.

From Project Gutenberg