bench warrant

n.
A warrant issued by a judge or court ordering the apprehension of an offender.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

A process that is initiated by the court pro se in order to attach or arrest a person. An order that a judge, or group of judges, issues directly to the police with the purpose of directing a person's arrest.

A bench warrant is used for attachment or arrest in a case of contempt, which is the willful disregard or disobedience of an authority such as the court. A bench warrant is also issued when an indictment, which is a written accusation of a person's guilt for an act or omission, is handed down. A third instance where a bench warrant is issued is to obtain a witness who disobeys a subpoena, which is a command to appear at a specified time and place to present testimony upon a certain matter.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a warrant authorizing law enforcement officials to apprehend an offender and bring that person to court
  Synonym: arrest warrant

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