Due process 正当程序也叫due process of law 法律的正当程序，以下是韦式词典对其的解释：

1: a course of formal proceedings (such as legal proceedings) carried out regularly and in accordance with established rules and principles

— called also procedural due process

2: a judicial requirement that enacted laws may not contain provisions that result in the unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable treatment of an individual

— called also substantive due process

根据以上解释，可以看出正当程序主要指程序上的正当法律程序（procedural due process）和实质上的正当法律程序（substantive due process）。起初在美国，正当程序主要指程序上的正当法律程序，即个人有权按照法律法规的规定获得公正、正当的审判；后来，在不断的发展过程中，这一外延得以扩大，加入了实质上的正当法律程序，即最高法院可以正当程序为由对联邦和各州的法律的实质性内容进行审查。一旦发现某些内容与宪法相违背的，最高法院可宣布上述内容违宪，这其中主要涉及的是公民的生命、自由和财产权。

以下是其在句子中的翻译：

Lastly, the Court ruled that slaves—as chattel or private property—could not be taken away from their owners without due process.

最后，法院判决奴隶——作为动产或稀有财产——不经正当程序不得离开自己的主人。

The court held that exercise of personal jurisdiction must meet the requirements of due process.

法院裁定行使人参管辖权必须符合正当程序要件。

转载自：译问  作者：旗渡法务中心