Legal Glossary Flashcards
means ‘from the beginning’
ab initio
means ‘to set free a person who has been charged with a crime’
acquit
an alternative name for statutory law
act
means ‘while the action is still pending’
ad litem
means ‘to settle by law’
adjudicate
a sworn or affirmed written statement of declaration
affidavit
means ‘injured’
aggrieved
A.K.A or a.k.a
also known as
means ‘another self’
alter ego
the name for a major legal encyclopedia published by the Lawyers’ Co-operative Publishing Company
American Jurisprudence, 2d
means ‘friend of the court’
amicus curiae
means ‘subordinate or auxiliary’
ancillary
explained or commented upon by the use of notes
annotated
means ‘to make void’
annul
means ‘before the suit’
ante litem
a person who takes an appeal from one court to another
appellant
the popular name for “A Uniform System of Citation” which is distributed by the Harvard Law Review
blue book
means ‘in good faith’
bona fide
means ‘to violate a law, right or duty’
breach
a written statement required by the rules of court
brief
a judicial opinion that deals with a factual situation similar to the one being researched
case in point
the law of reported appellate judicial opinions
case law
means ‘caution’
caveat
this is a writ issued by a superior court to an inferior court (also means ‘to be informed of’)
certiorari
means ‘personal property’
chattel
means ‘a reference to an authority’
citation
a set of books that provide subsequent judicial history and interpretation of reported decisions
citators
a compilation of statutes organized by topic
code
a separate opinion written by a justice who agrees with the majority decision but disagrees with the reasons for arriving at the said decision
concurring opinion
means ‘to transfer’
convey
a name of a major encyclopedia published by West Publishing Company
Corpus Juris Secundum
this is an opposing claim filed by the defendant against the plaintiff
counterclaim
procedural rules promulgated to govern both civil and criminal practice before the court
court rules
means ‘in fact’
de facto
means ‘in law’
de jure
means ‘from the beginning’
de novo
used to call the one who has died
descendent
term used to call a judge’s opinion that is not addressed to the issue before the court
dictum
means ‘bring with you’
duces tecum
means ‘therefore’
ergo
means ‘and others’
et al.
means ‘by virtue of official position’
ex officio
means ‘pertaining to only one side’
ex parte
means ‘done after the fact’
ex post facto
means ‘in a similar case’
in pari causa
means ‘equally at fault’
in pari delicto
means ‘forever’
in perpetuam
means ‘against the person’
in personam
means ‘in regard to’
in re
means ‘against the thing’
in rem
means ‘among other things’
inter alia
means ‘between living persons’
inter vivos
means ‘provisional’
interlocutory
this is the condition of having died without a will
intestate
means ‘from the fact itself’
ipso facto
this is the philosophy of law
Jurisprudence
this is the right of a creditor against a specific property
lien
this refers to the notice of pendency of suit
lis pendens
means ‘we command’ or a command from a competent jurisdiction
mandamus
means ‘it does not follow’
non sequitur
means ‘now for then’ or to take effect on a former date (i.e., order pro tunc is an order clarifying a previous order on clerical matters)
nunc pro tunc
this means ‘verbal evidence’
parol evidence
this means ‘while litigation is pending’
pendente lite
this means ‘an opinion by the entire court’ or ‘by the court’
per curiam
means ‘by itself’
per se
means ‘on the face of it’ or ‘at first view’
prima facie
means ‘in proportion’
pro rata
means ‘to that extent’
pro tanto
means ‘for the time being’
pro tempore
means ‘annul’
quash
means ‘mutual consideration’
Quan pro Quo
means ‘an action to bring dispute to court and cause a party to establish his claim on land’
Quiet Title
this means ‘the basis for the decision of the case’
ratio decidendi
means ‘in regard to’
Re
this is a person action brought to recover possession of unlawfully taken goods
replevin
means ‘subject manner of suit’
Res
means ‘matter incidental to main fact’
Res Gestae
means ‘the thing speaks for itself’
Res ipsa Loquitur
means ‘once a matter is finally decided by court, it may not be re-litigated’
res judicata
means ‘without’
sans
means ‘in this manner’
sic
means ‘without fixing a day’ (indefinitely)
Sine Die
means ‘location or place’
Situs (i.e., situs criminis - scene of crime)
means ‘the existing state’
Status Quo
this means ‘statute setting a time limit within which an action must be brought’
Statute of Limitations
this is a writ that compels a witness to appear and give testimony
Subpoena
a writ to produce certain papers
Subpoena Duces Tecum
means ‘in its own class’
Sui Generis
means ‘having left a will’
Testate
means ‘a legal wrong’
Tort
means ‘namely’
To Wit
this is the place where the case is to be tried
venue
means ‘word for word’
verbatim
means ‘by voice’
viva voce
means ‘to relinquish a right’
Waive
this is a computer-assisted legal research device developed by the West Publishing Company
Westlaw
