High misdemeanor

High misdemeanor is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisions, neglects and contempts. A good example of this is treason. The most important example may be that of maladministration in high office.

Examples in English law
A number of United Kingdom statutes refer to particular crimes as being high misdemeanors:


 * Discharging or aiming firearms, or throwing or using any offensive matter or weapon, with intent to injure or alarm the Sovereign
 * Where a Roman Catholic advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Established Church
 * Where a Jew advises the Crown on the appointment to offices of the Churches of England, Ireland and Scotland

Blackstone describes a number of offences as being high misdemeanors, for example:


 * treasonable words
 * receiving stolen goods
 * prison break
 * maladministration of high office
 * firing of one's house in a town

A number of statutory references to high misdemeanors have subsequently been repealed, including:
 * The conviction of a returning officer for corrupt practices during an election to the Parliament of Ireland