Colour Of Law (Noun)
Meaning
A mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law; "the plaintiff claimed that under color of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The judge ruled that the officer's actions constituted an arrest under colour of law, despite lacking probable cause.
- The civil rights group argued that police used colour of law to intimidate protesters and suppress their freedom of speech.
- The whistleblower's lawyer claimed that her client's termination was carried out under colour of law, but was actually an act of retaliatory firing.
- In the court case, the defendant claimed that the officer had confiscated his property under colour of law but had kept it for personal gain.
- Under colour of law, local officials allegedly issued false warrants and conducted raids on unsuspecting residents, in what appeared to be a systemic abuse of power.