title: High misdemeanor
text: # 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  A number of statutory references to high misdemeanors have subsequently been repealed, including: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
  