Common Phrases

Question 1

ad hoc

Answer 1

for this purpose

Question 2

amicus curiae

Answer 2

friend of the court

Question 3

bona fide

Answer 3

in good faith

Question 4

corpus delicti

Answer 4

body of the crime, i.e. material evidence that a crime has occurred

Question 5

cui bono

Answer 5

for what good purpose

Question 6

de facto

Answer 6

according to the fact or deed

Question 7

de jure

Answer 7

according to the law

Question 8

et uxor

Answer 8

and (his) wife

Question 9

ex officio

Answer 9

by virtue of the office held

Question 10

ex post facto

Answer 10

from the deed afterwards (acting retroactively)

Question 11

habeas corpus

Answer 11

“you are to produce the body” - writ requiring party be brought to court, promptly

Question 12

male fide

Answer 12

in bad faith

Question 13

in flagrante delicto

Answer 13

in the act

Question 14

in prope persona

Answer 14

in one’s own person, i.e. on one’s own behalf and without lawyer

Question 15

ipso facto

Answer 15

by the very deed

Question 16

modus operandi

Answer 16

manner of working or operating

Question 17

nollo prosequi

Answer 17

I don’t wish to prosecute (will drop all parts of suit)

Question 18

nolo contendere

Answer 18

I will not contend (plea equal to admission of guilt, but allows recourse to deny the matter in subsequent proceedings)

Question 19

non compos mentis

Answer 19

not of sane mind

Question 20

obiter dictum

Answer 20

a judge’s incidental remark, observation or opinion that is not binding

Question 21

onus probandi

Answer 21

burden of proof

Question 22

per se

Answer 22

in itself

Question 23

prima facie

Answer 23

at first sight

Question 24

pro forma

Answer 24

as a matter of form only

Question 25

pro tempore (pro tem)

Answer 25

for the time being, temporarily

Question 26

quid pro quo

Answer 26

something in exchange for something - a fair trade

Question 27

sine die

Answer 27

without a day, i.e. a specific date for reconvening

Question 28

ab initio

Answer 28

from the beginning

Question 29

imprimatur

Answer 29

imprint; lit. “let it be printed”

Question 30

pro bono publico

Answer 30

for the public good

Question 31

pendente lite; lis pendens

Answer 31

while judgement is pending; a case in progress

Question 32

inter alia

Answer 32

among other things

Question 33

in camera

Answer 33

in private; lit. “in a room”

Question 34

ex parte

Answer 34

prejudiced; lit. “from a part/party” (i.e. an application made by one party alone without the involvement of the other party, during the application stage)

Question 35

ad infinitum

Answer 35

for ever

Question 36

fiat

Answer 36

command; lit. “let it be done”

Question 37

casus belli

Answer 37

a ground for war

Question 38

restitutio in integrum

Answer 38

complete restoration, putting back as new

Question 39

lingua franca

Answer 39

international language

Question 40

nemo debet esse iudex in propria

Answer 40

nobody must be a judge in his own (case)

Question 41

per contra

Answer 41

the opposite

Question 42

sub judice

Answer 42

pending, lit. “under the judge”

Question 43

ultra vires

Answer 43

in excess of the power possessed; lit. “beyond strength”

Question 44

exempli gratia

Answer 44

for the sake of example [e.g.]

Question 45

mandamus

Answer 45

a writ [so called from the first “We command”]

Question 46

subpoena

Answer 46

a writ commanding a person to appear in court to give evidence; lit. “under penalty” because the person was bound to appear

Question 47

affidavit

Answer 47

a sworn deposition (eidesstattliche Erklärung)

Question 48

quantum

Answer 48

amount; lit. “how much”

Question 49

res ipsa loquitur

Answer 49

open and shut case, lit. “the thing itself speaks”

Question 50

scandalum magnum

Answer 50

a great stumbling block (original meaning of scandal)