compurgation
/ˌkɑmpərˈɡeɪʃən/
noun
- A historical legal practice where a person accused of a crime could swear to their innocence and have others swear they believed the person's oath.
- The accused relied on compurgation, bringing twelve neighbors to swear for him.
- In medieval England, compurgation was used to clear a person's name.
- Compurgation eventually fell out of use as modern trial procedures developed.