Week 1 Flashcards
Ad litem
For the suit
Amicus curiae
Friend of the court
Certiorari
To be more fully informed
De novo
A new
Ex parte
From the part
Habeas corpus
That you have the body
In camera
In a chamber
In forma pauperis
In the manner of a pauper
In re
In the matter of
Mandamus
We command
Per curiam
By the court as a whole
Pro bono (publico)
For the public good
Pro se
For oneself; on one’s own behalf; without a lawyer
Sua sponte
Of one’s own accord; voluntarily
Quasi
As if
Qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur
Who as well for the king as for himself sues in this matter
ab inito
from the beginning
actus reus
an act in violation of the law; a guilty act
ad absudum
to the point of absudity
ad curiam
at court
ad damnum
to the damage; amount of plaintiff’s loss
additur
it is added; an amount added by the judge to jury damages
ad hoc
for this; for one special purpose
ad infinitum
for infinity forever
ad interim
in the meantime
ad libitum
at pleasure, at will
ad litem
for the duration of the suit
ad nauseam
to the point of nausea
ad valorem
according to the value. e.g. Elaine had to pay ad-valorem tax on her furs
a fortiori
with greater force
alia
other things
aliunde
from elsewhere; from another source
alma mater
school or college which one has attended or graduated from
alter ego
a second self; a trusted friend; opposite side of a personality
amicus curiae
friend of the court; nonparty to a litigation that is allowed to advise the court re cogent matters of law or fact
animus
mind; will; intention; hostility
anno domini
(abbr. a.d.) in the year of the lord
ante
before
antebellum
existing before a war
a posteriori
reasoning based on experience
a priori
reasoning based on assumption
arguendo
by arguing; for the sake of argument
assumpsit
an action for breach of contract
autrefois acquit
plea of former acquittal
autrefois attaint
plea of former attainder (prosecution)
autrefois convict
plea of former conviction
bill to take testimony de bene esse
request to take certain testimony now because it may not be available later
bona fide
in good faith; genuine
bona fides
good faith
capias
that you take; an arrest order. e.g., the judge issued a capias in order to pick up the defendant
carte blanche
art blawnch) (white paper) unlimited authority
causa mortis
in contemplation of death
cause celebre
a trial or decision that is extraordinary for some reason
caveat
(let him take heed) notice to court to suspend proceedings temporarily; proviso; provision
caveat actor
let the doer beware
caveat emptor
let the buyer beware
