bind somebody over phrasal verb [usually passive] law (see also bind)
a) British English if someone is bound over by a court of law, they are warned that, if they cause more trouble, they will be legally punished:
The demonstrators were bound over to keep the peace.
b) American English if someone is bound over for trial, they are forced by law to appear in a court

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲