BENCH WARRANT - An order issued
by a judge for the attachement or arrest of a person.
The name of a process sometimes given to an attachment
issued by order of a court, against an individual
for some contempt, or for the purpose of arresting
a person accused; the latter is seldom granted unless
when a true bill has been found.
If a person fails to appear in court when she has
been properly ordered to do so, the judge is authorized
to issue a warrant (a court order authorizing a law
enforcement officer to arrest someone) for her arrest.
A warrant issued this way is called a bench warrant.
E.g. X has fallen behind on court-ordered child support
and is served with an order to show cause why he should
not be held in contempt of court for not complying.
X failed to appear at the scheduled hearing; the judge
may issue a bench warrant authorizing the police to
arrest X and bring him before the judge to answer
the charge of contempt.
