First Latin Phrases Flashcards
ACTION IN PERSONAM
An action against the person, founded on a personal liability. In contrast to action in rem, an action for the recovery of a specific object, usually an item of personal property such as an automobile.
ACTION IN REM
Proceeding “against the thing” as compared to personal actions (in personam ). Usually a proceeding where property is involved.
AD LITEM
A Latin term meaning for the purposes of the lawsuit. For example, a guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court to protect the interests of a minor or legally incompetent person in a lawsuit.
ADDITUR
An increase by a judge in the amount of damages awarded by a jury.
AMICUS CURIAE
A friend of the court. One not a party to a case who volunteers to offer information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it.
CAVEAT
A warning, note of caution.
CAVEAT EMPTOR
“Let the buyer beware.” Encourages a purchaser to examine, judge, and test for himself.
CERTIORI
A means of getting an appellate court to review a lower court’s decision. The loser of a case will often ask the appellate court to issue a writ of certiorari, which orders the lower court to convey the record of the case to the appellate court and to certify it as accurate and complete. If an appellate court grants a writ of certiorari, it agrees to take the appeal. This is often referred to as granting cert.
CORPUS DELECTI
Body of the crime. The objective proof that a crime has been committed. It sometimes refers to the body of the victim of a homicide or to the charred shell of a burned house, but the term has a broader meaning. For the state to introduce a confession or to convict the accused, it must prove a corpus delicti, that is, the occurrence of a specific injury or loss and a criminal act as the source of that particular injury or loss.
DE NOVO
A new. A trial de novo is a new trial of a case.
ET AL
And others
ET SEQ
An abbreviation for et sequentes, or et sequentia, “and the following,” ordinarily used in referring to a section of statutes.
EX CONTRACTU
Arising from a contract
EX DELICTO
Arising from a wrong, or breach of duty. Tort phrase.
EX PARTE
On behalf of only one party, without notice to any other party. For example, a request for a search warrant is an ex parte proceeding, since the person subject to the search is not notified of the proceeding and is not present at the hearing.
EX PARTE PROCEEDING
The legal procedure in which only one side is represented. It differs from adversary system or adversary proceeding.
EX POST FACTO
After the fact. The Constitution prohibits the enactment of ex post facto laws. These are laws that permit conviction and punishment for a lawful act performed before the law was changed and the act made illegal.
GUARDIAN AD LITEM
A person appointed by a court to look after the interests of an infant, child, or incompetent during court proceedings.
HABEAS CORPUS
A writ which commands that a party be brought before a court or judge and to protect him or her from unlawful imprisonment or custody.
HEARING DE NOVO
A full new hearing.
IN CAMERA
In chambers, or in private. A hearing in camera takes place in the judge’s office outside of the presence of the jury and the public.
IN FORMA PAUPERIS
“In the manner of a pauper.” Permission given to a person to sue without payment of court fees on claim of indigence or poverty.
IN LOCO PARENTIS
“In the place of the parent,” refers to actions of a custodian, guardian, or other person acting in the parent’s place.
IN PROPIA PERSONA
In courts, it refers to persons who present his or her own case without lawyers. See PRO PER and PRO SE.
IN REM
A procedural term used to designate proceedings or actions instituted against the thing in contrast to actions instituted in personam or against the person.