outlawry An outlaw was a person who was put out of the protection of the law by judgment of outlawry. In effect it was a conviction; there was attainder, forfeiture of chattels, and escheat of realty after the Kings year, day and waste. Where an indictment had been found against a person and summary process proved ineffectual to compel him to appear, process of outlawry might be issued. Outlawry was subsequently extended to civil proceedings, e.g. trespass. Outlawry proceedings have long been obsolete and usually repealed.