venire facias

Noun

venire facias (plural venire faciases)

1. (historical) A judicial writ or precept directed to the sheriff, requiring him to summon a certain number of qualified persons to a court case to serve as jurors.
   • [A] Venire facias is the foundation and Cauſa ſine qua non, of a Jury (I mean in Civil Causes; for in Criminals, as upon Indictments, the Justices of Gaol-Delivery, give a general Command to Sheriff, to cauſe the Country to come against their coming, and take the Pannels of the Sheriff, without any...1702, G[iles] D[uncombe], Tryals per Pais: or, the Law of England Concerning Juries by Nisi Prius, &c. Newly Revised, and much Enlarged, with an Addition of Precedents, and Forms of Challenges...
   • Venire facias, A Writ judicial awarded to the Sheriff to cauſe a Jury of the Neighbourhood to appear, when a Cauſe is brought to Iſſue, to try the ſame; and if the Jury come not at the Day of this Writ, then there ſhall go a Habeas Corpora, and after a Diſtreſs until they appear.1729, Giles Jacob, A New Law-dictionary Containing the Interpretation and Definition of Words and Terms Used in the Law; and also the Whole Law, and the Practice thereof, under all the Heads and...
2. (historical) A summons to cause the party indicted on a penal statute to appear.
   • Venire facias, Is alſo the common Proceſs upon any Preſentment, being in Nature of a Summons for the Party to appear; and is a proper Proceſs to be firſt awarded on an Indictment for any Crime, under the Degree of Treaſon, Felony, or Maihem, except in ſuch Caſes wherein other Proceſs is directed by...1729, Giles Jacob, A New Law-dictionary Containing the Interpretation and Definition of Words and Terms Used in the Law; and also the Whole Law, and the Practice thereof, under all the Heads and...