The Meaning of Felony
Elizabeth Papp Kamali
Chapter 1 introduces the argument that mens rea, or guilty mind, was central to medieval English jurors’ understandings of guilt and innocence also meaning word “felony” itself. After exploring competing etymological theories, including those Edward Coke, Henry Spelman, William Blackstone, Jeremy Bentham, chapter argues in favor Coke’s interpretation, tracing felony its root Latin fel, gall, a bodily humor associated with bitterness and, by analogy, wickedness. By demonstrating survival feudal connotation England, crime-related Normandy, emphasizes cross-channel exchange ideas downplays exceptionalist narrative has dominated earlier discussions felony.
Cambridge University Press eBooks