Arrest of
JUDGMENT, ARREST OF, practice. This takes place when the court withhold
judgment from the plaintiff on the ground that there is some error appearing
on the face of the record, which vitiates the proceedings. In consequence of
such error, on whatever part of the record it may arise, from the
commencement of the suit to the time when the motion in arrest of judgment
is made, the court are bound to arrest the judgment.
2. It is, however, only with respect to objections apparent on the
record, that such motions can be made. They cannot, in general, be made in
respect to formal objections. This was formerly otherwise, and judgments
were constantly arrested for matters of mere form; 3 Bl. Corn. 407; 2
Reeves, 448; but this abuse has been long remedied by certain statutes
passed at different periods, called the statutes of amendment and jeofails,
by the effect of which, judgments, cannot, in general, now be arrested for
any objection of form. Steph. Pl. 117; see 3 Bl. Com. 393; 21 Vin. Ab. 457;
1 Sell. Pr. 496.