either-wayadj.
/ˈʌɪðəˌweɪ/, /ˈiːðəˌweɪ/, U.S. /ˈiðərˌweɪ/, /ˈaɪðərˌweɪ/ English Law.
Designating a criminal offence which can either be tried on indictment before a judge and jury in the Crown Court, or by summary procedure in a magistrates' court.
ΚΠ
1976 Hansard Lords 14 Dec. 807 The James Committee recommended that a standard fine should be available summarily for all either way offences to achieve a further simplification of procedure.
2008 Evening Chron. (Newcastle) (Nexis) 5 Mar. 6 Both offences [sc. carrying a bladed instrument and possession of an offensive weapon] are known as either way crimes, which means they can be dealt with by magistrates or by a judge in a crown court.
2019 M. Hannibal & L. Mountford Criminal Litigation 2019–20 i. 9 Either-way offences are middle-ranking offences in terms of seriousness.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1976