LatinLegalTerms

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Sparta/9909/legal.html.

Amicuscuriae:Friendofthecourt.Referstoapartythatisallowedtoprovideinformation(usuallyintheformof
alegalbrief)toacourteventhoughthepartisnotdirectlyinvolvedinthecaseathand.

Caveat emptor: let the buyer beware. This rule generally applies to all sales between individuals. It gives the
buyerfullresponsibilitytodeterminethequalityofthegoodsinquestion.Thesellergenerallyhasnodutytooffer
warrantiesortodiscloseallinformationaboutthegoods.

Certiorari:tobeinformedof.Referstotheorderacourtissuessothatitcanreviewanygraveabuseofdiscretion
amountingtolackorexcessofjurisdictionfromanybranchorinstrumentalityofthegovernment.Whensuchone
ismade,itissaidthatthecourthasgrantedcertiorari.

Corpus delicti: The body (physical manifestation) of a crime. E.g., the corpse of a murdered man, the charred
remainsofaburnedhouse

De facto: Literally, in fact. A corporation, person or state of affairs that exists in reality though perhaps not
officially;amatterofconductorpracticenotfoundeduponlaw.

Dejure:Literally,byright.Acorporation,personorstateofaffairsfunctioninginaccordancewiththelaw.

De novo: Usually applied to trial de novo, a system that permits a defendant to elect a second, totally new trial
beforeajuryifthefirsttrialwasbeforeajudgeandthedefendantisdissatisfiedwiththejudgesdecision.

Etseq:Shortforetsequentes,oretesquentia,meaningandthefollowingUsedfrequentlyinlegalreferencesto
indicatethematerialfollowingthepagecited.

Expostfacto:Afterthefact;anactorfactoccurringaftersomepreviousrelatedact.

Exrel:"onbehalfof."Usedinnamingofcases.

Exparte:"byorforoneparty."Referstosituationsinwhichonlyoneparty(andnottheadversary)appearsbefore
ajudge.Suchmeetingsareoftenforbidden.

Guardianadlitem:"guardianatlaw."Theperson appointed bythecourttolook outforthebestinterestsofthe

childduringthecourseoflegalproceedings.

Habeas corpus: "you shall have the body." Prisoners often seek release by filing a petition for a writ of habeas
corpus.Awritofhabeascorpusisajudicialmandatetoaprisonofficialorderingthataninmatebebroughttothe
courtsoitcanbedeterminedwhetherornotthatpersonisimprisonedlawfully.

In camera: "in chambers." Refers to a hearing or inspection of documents that takes places in private, often in a
judge'schambers.

Interlocutory:Courtordersthatareprovisional,temporaryandnotfinal.

Lis pendens: Generally a notice filed in the registry of deeds to warn persons that title to certain property is in
litigation.

Locusdelicti:Theplaceoftheoffense.

Neexeat:Alegalprocessseekingtopreventapersonfromleavingthestateorjurisdictiontoavoidlitigation.

Nolle prosequi: Commonly, nol pros; a prosecutor's decision not to prosecute a criminal case after charges have
beenbrought.

Nolocontendere:Commonly,nolo;apleaindicatingthedefendantwillnotcontestacriminalcharge.

Noncomposmentis:"notofsoundmind."

Nonobstanteverdicto:Commonly,N.O.V.;ajudgmententeredbyatrialjudgethatiscontrarytothejuryverdict.

Nuncprotunc:Literally,"nowforthen";actsorentriesofdecreesorjudgmentsmaderetroactivetoanearlierdate.

Parenspatriae:"parentofhiscountry."Usedwhenthegovernmentactsonbehalfofachildormentallyillperson.
Referstothe"state"astheguardianofminorsandincompetentpeople.

Percuriam:Literally,"throughthecourt";anopinionofanappellatecourtnotattributabletoanyonejudge.

Primafacie:"atfirstview."Referstotheminimumamountofevidenceaplaintiffmusthavetoavoidhavingacase
dismissed.Itissaidthattheplaintiffmustmakeaprimafaciecase.

Pro bono publico: Literally, "for the public good"; usually referring to voluntary service rendered by attorneys;
commonlyabbreviatedasprobono.

Prose:(pronouncedprosay)"forhimself."Apersonwhorepresentshimselfincourtalonewithoutthehelpofa
lawyerissaidtoappearprose.

Quidproquo:"whatforwhatorsomethingforsomething."Theconceptofgettingsomethingofvalueinreturnfor
givingsomethingofvalue.Foracontracttobebinding,itusuallymustinvolvetheexchangeofsomethingofvalue.

*Quid pro quo sexual harassment: Where an employee is threatened with a demotion (or promised a
promotion) in exchange for "sexual favors." It usually comes from a supervisor or other person in a position of
authority.

Resipsaloquitur:"thethingspeaksforitself."Referstosituationswhenit'sassumedthat
a person's injury was caused by the negligent action of another party because the accident was the sort that
wouldn'toccurunlesssomeonewasnegligent.

Sinequanon:Literally,"withoutwhichnothing";anindispensablerequisite.

Staredecisis:"tostandbythatwhichisdecided."Referstotheprincipleofadheringtoprecedentwhendecidinga
case.

Subpoena:"underpenalty."Anordercompellingapersontoappeartotestifyorproducedocuments.

Subpoena duces tecum: Literally, "bring them with you." A court order compelling a witness to produce certain
documents.

Venire: Literally, "to come"; an order summoning persons to court to act as jurors, often applied to the group of
jurorssummoned