bind over

verb

bound over; binding over; binds over

transitive verb

: to put under a bond to do something (such as to appear in court)

Examples of bind over in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The standoff has put Johnson in a bind over how to piece together a plan that a majority of the House can support but that also doesn’t lead to a revolt by hard-liners closely watching his leadership. Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 In June 2022, Schurr was charged with second-degree murder by the Kent County Prosecutor's office, and was bound over for trial after a preliminary examination in Oct. 2022. Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024 Milwaukee County Judicial Court Commissioner Barry Phillips found enough probable cause existed for the criminal case against Jered Corn to be bound over for trial. Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 Morrison has been in a political bind over climate change. NBC News, 26 Oct. 2021 After a municipal court hearing on Aug. 1, his case was bound over to Fulton County Superior Court and Hawkins was transferred to the Fulton County Jail on Aug. 5. Jozsef Papp, ajc, 18 Aug. 2023 The case was bound over for trial at a hearing Monday. Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2023 Doctor and nurse will stand trial in 24-year-old woman’s jail death July 3, 2023 Both defendants, who face up to four years in state prison if convicted, were bound over for trial after a weeklong preliminary hearing last month. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023 Ascher and Fraker were both bound over for trial March 10 after pleading not guilty. Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bind over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bind over was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near bind over

Cite this Entry

“Bind over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bind%20over. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

bind over

transitive verb
1
: to put under a bond to do something (as appear in court) under court authority
2
: to transfer (a case or defendant) to another forum after a finding of probable cause at a preliminary hearing

Note: In states that require indictment by a grand jury in felony cases, a case will be bound over to the grand jury if the judge or magistrate finds at the preliminary hearing that there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the crime. In states that use an information, the case is bound over to the trial court upon a finding of probable cause.

intransitive verb

: to bind a case over
questioned the magistrate's decision to bind over
bindover noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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