RESORT. The authority or jurisdiction1 of a court. The supreme2 court of the United States is a court of the last resort.
RESPECTABLE WITNESS. One who is competent to testify in a court of justice. To pass lands in Alabama, a will must be attested3 by three or more respectable witnesses. See Attesting4 witness; Competent witness; Credible5 witness and Witness.
RESPIRATION6, Med. jur. Breathing, which consists of the drawing into, inhaling7, or more technically8, inspiring, atmospheric9 air into the lungs, and then: forcing out, expelling, or technically expiring, from the lungs the air therein. Chit. Med. Jur. 92 and 416, note n.
RESPITE10, contracts, civil law. An act by which a debtor11 who is unable to satisfy his debts at the moment, transacts12 (i. e. compromises) with his creditors13, and obtains from them time or delay for the payment of the sums which he owes to them. Louis. Code, 3051.
2. The respite is either voluntary or forced; it is voluntary when all the creditors consent to the proposal, which the debtor makes to pay in a limited time the whole or a part of his debt; it is forced when a part of the credi-tors refuse to accept the debtor's proposal, and when the latter is obliged to compel them by judicial14 authority, to consent to what the others have deter-mined in the cases directed by law. Id. 3052; Poth. Proced. Civ. 5eme partie, ch. 3.
3. In Pennsylvania, there is a provision in the insolvent15 act of June 16, 1836, s. 41, somewhat similar to involuntary respite. It is enacted16, that whenever a majority in number and value of the creditors of any insolvent, as aforesaid, residing within the United States, or having a known attorney therein, shall consent in writing thereto, it shall be lawful17 for the court by whom such insolvent shall have been discharged, upon the application of such debtor, and notice given thereof, in the manner hereinbefore provided for giving notice of his original petition, to make an order that the estate and effects which such insolvent may afterwards acquire, shall be exempted18 for the term of seven years thereafter from execution, for any debt contracted, or cause of action existing previously19 to such discharge, and if after such order and consent, any execution shall be issued for such debt or cause of action, it sliall be the duty, of any judge of the court from which such execution issued, to set aside the same with costs.
4. Respite also signifies a delay, forbearance or continuation of time.