Important Legal Definitions
Explore legal terms, clear definitions and practical examples.
Color of Office (Virtute Officii)
Constitutional & Public Law Doctrines
Definition
Acts committed by a public official under the pretense of official authority, but which exceed their actual lawful powers or are carried out for an unauthorized, corrupt, or personal purpose.
Example
A tax inspector uses their official government identification and official vehicle to enter a private home at midnight to settle a personal land dispute; the act is committed under the color of office without legal jurisdiction.