issue a warrant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "issue a warrant" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in legal contexts when referring to the formal authorization to take a specific action, such as arresting someone or searching a property. For example: "The judge decided to issue a warrant for the suspect's arrest." Alternative expressions include "grant a warrant" and "authorize a warrant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The court refused to adjourn or issue a warrant for Sankey.

The Guardian - Opinion

Seeking to distance herself from Guyon's teachings, Maintenon lobbied the king to issue a warrant for Guyon's arrest.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Ragland had skipped the court hearing, prompting the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest.

The New York Times

Mr. Vorayuth still faces two other charges, and prosecutors said they would issue a warrant for his arrest.

The New York Times

If Judge Sturns finds that Mr. Anderson committed a criminal violation, he could issue a warrant for his arrest.

The New York Times

Russia has asked Interpol to issue a warrant for Mr. Nevzlin as part of an investigation into corruption.

The New York Times

Under the circumstances, Judge Riddle said, Swedish prosecutors had every right to issue a warrant last December for his arrest and return.

The New York Times

Judge Suzanne M. Mondo warned that if Ms. Hogan failed to make any of the payments, she would issue a warrant for her arrest.

The New York Times

Further investigation led the FBI to issue a warrant against the couple for interstate transportation of the second stolen automobile on May 20 , 1933

Encyclopedia Britannica

The whole country is waiting to see whether the ICC judges act on the chief prosecutor's recommendation, made in July, to issue a warrant for Mr Bashir's arrest.

The Economist

But would it really impede law-enforcement that much if a judge was required to issue a warrant on each occasion?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use 'issue' when the subject is the court, judge, or magistrate, as they are the only authorities with the legal power to do so.

Common error

Do not use "issue a warrant" when you mean the police are carrying out the action. A judge issues the warrant, but the police "serve a warrant" or "execute a warrant". Using 'issue' for the police action is a technical inaccuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "issue a warrant" functions as a transitive verb phrase. In this construction, "issue" is the operative verb meaning to officially give out or publish, while "a warrant" serves as the direct object. According to Ludwig, it is primarily used to describe the formal judicial act of authorizing law enforcement activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academic

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "issue a warrant" is a standard and essential expression in legal and journalistic English. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe the formal authorization by a judge or magistrate for law enforcement to perform a specific action, most commonly an arrest or a search. It is highly frequent in authoritative news outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian, indicating its reliability and widespread acceptance. Writers should be careful to distinguish between the judge who "issues" the document and the police who "serve" or "execute" it. Using specific qualifiers like "bench warrant" or "search warrant" can further enhance clarity. Overall, it is the most appropriate and professional way to describe this specific judicial procedure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grant a warrant

Emphasizes the judge's role in approving a formal request.

authorize a warrant

Focuses on the legal permission granted by a governing body.

sign a warrant

Refers specifically to the physical act of a judge validating the document.

obtain a warrant

Shifts perspective to the law enforcement officers who receive the warrant.

approve a warrant

A more general term for the judicial validation of the document.

secure a warrant

Implies that effort or proof was required to get the document.

seek a warrant

Refers to the preparatory stage where authorities ask for a warrant.

serve a warrant

Describes the act of delivering or executing the warrant on a suspect.

execute a warrant

The technical term for carrying out the search or arrest authorized.

request a warrant

Focuses on the formal petition made to a magistrate.

FAQs

How do I use "issue a warrant" in a sentence?

You can use it when a court formally authorizes an action, such as "The magistrate decided to "issue a warrant" for the suspect's arrest after reviewing the evidence."

What is the difference between "issue a warrant" and "serve a warrant"?

The main difference is the actor: a judge will "issue a warrant" to give legal permission, while law enforcement will "serve a warrant" to physically carry out the arrest or search.

Can I say "grant a warrant" instead of "issue a warrant"?

Yes, you can use "grant a warrant" especially when emphasizing that a judge has approved a specific application from the police.

Is "issue a warrant" used only for arrests?

No, it is commonly used for various legal actions, such as when a judge needs to "issue a search warrant" or a "bench warrant" for someone failing to appear in court.