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Law and Government
Latin lives on in many of the institutions set up by the Romans including government and law. The Roman balance of power during the Republic which included elected consuls, a senate and various citizen assemblies inspired the founding fathers of the United States to create a similar governmental structure.
Additionally Latin terms can be found in legal terminology. Latin background will be helpful for students interested in learning more about a legal career. Let's explore more examples below.
Latin Legal Expressions Defined
Latin Legal Expression, part 1
Latin Legal Expression, part 2
Latin Legal Expression, part 3
ad hoc
for this purpose, i.e. special
amicus curiae
friend of the court
A person who advises a court on a matter of law in a case of which he is not a party
bona fide
in good faith
Sincere, genuine
corpus delicti
body of the crime
Material evidence of the fact that a crime has been committed
cui bono
for whose good, for what purpose
Who benefitted?
de facto
according to fact, actually
de jure
according to law, legally
de minimis non curat lex
the law does not care for trifles
et alii, et alia (et al.)
and the other persons, and the other things
et uxor
and his wife
ex officio
in virtue of one's office
ex post facto
from the action afterwards
operating retroactively
habeas corpus
you shall have the body
writ requiring that a party be brought before a court or judge promptly.
in absentia
in one's absence
a trial conducted with the defendant not present
in flagrante delicto
in flagrant crime
a crime of passion
in propria persona
in one's own person
acting in court without a lawyer
ipso facto
by the fact itself
mala fide
in bad faith
modus operandi (MO)
manner or way of operating
motive for a crime
nolle prosequi
to be unwilling to pursue
a declaration that the plaintiff or prosecutor will drop prosecution of all or part of a suit or indictment
nolo contendere
I will not contend
a plea made by the defendant equivalent to admission of guilt but leaving open the possibility for him to deny alleged facts in other proceedings
non compos mentis
not having control of the mind
not of sound mind and thus not legally responsible
obiter dictum
said by the way
an incidental remark by the judge or other person
onus probandi
burden of proof
per capita
by heads
individually
per se
through itself, by itself
per stirpes
by the stalk or stem
a method of distributing an estate equally among living descendants (each "branch" of the family gets an equal portion)
prima facie
at first sight
pro forma
as a matter of form
pro tempore (pro tem.)
for the time being, temporarily
quid pro quo
something for something
an equal exchange or substitution - trading favors for favors
sine die
without a day
no set day for reconvening a trial or matter
subpoena
under penalty
a writ requiring someone to do something under the threat of legal penalty
URB: Lesson - Latin Legacy in the Sciences URB: Lesson - Latin Legacy in the Arts and Architecture
Latin Legacy in the Law and Government