Legal Maxim

STAT CON Midterms

index animi sermo est

"speech is the index of intention"

legis interpretatio legis vim obtinet

“the interpretation placed upon the written law by a competent court has the force of law”

lex prospicit, non respicit

“The law looks forward, not backward”

dura lex sed lex

translates from Latin to mean "the law is harsh, but it is the law"

expressio unius est exclusio alterius

"the expression of one thing is the exclusion of the other"

condition sine qua non

is an absolute requirement or an essential rule without which a specific result is not possible

optimus interpres rerum usus

"usage is the best interpreter of the law"

ratihabitio mandato aequiparatur

“subsequent ratification is equivalent to a prior mandate or authority”

contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege

“Contemporary construction is the best and strongest in law.”

stare decisis et non quieta movere

“stand by what has been decided and do not disturb what has been settled.”

verba legis

rule of statutory construction stating that when a law is clear, plain, and free from ambiguity, it must be given its literal meaning and applied without interpretation

ratio legis est anima

"the reason of the law is the soul of the law"

aequitas nunquam contravenit legis

"equity never contradicts the law" or "equity never acts in contravention of the law."

verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire

"words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the words."

nemo tenetur ad impossibilia

"nobody is bound to the impossible"

cessante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex

"when the reason for a law ceases, the law itself ceases"

pari delicto potior est conditio defendentis

"in a case of equal or mutual fault, the position of the defendant is the better one"

quando aliquid prohibetur prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum

"When something is prohibited directly, it is also prohibited indirectly" or "What cannot be done directly, cannot be done indirectly"

maledicta est expositio quae corrumpit textum

"It is a dangerous [or bad] construction which corrupts the text [or the words]."

verba legis non est recedendum

"from the words of a statute there should be no departure."

absoluta sententia expositore non indiget

an absolute sentence needs no expositor. When the language of the law is clear and simple, no explanation or interpretation is required.

ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debemus

"Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish"

expressum facit cessare tacitum

is a Latin legal maxim that means "what is expressed makes what is implied silent" or "that which is expressed puts an end to that which is implied"

noscitur a sociis

"it is known by its associates" or "a word is known by the company it keeps."

ejusdem generis

"of the same kind"

exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis

"the exception proves the rule in cases not excepted."

argumentum a contrario

"argument from the contrary"
is a form of legal reasoning or logic where a specific proposition is inferred to be untrue or have the opposite rule because it is not included in the explicit terms of a rule or law

Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est

"a case omitted is to be held as intentionally omitted".

reddendo singula singulis

by referring each to each".

optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum

means "the best interpreter of a statute is the statute itself"

ut res magis valeat quam pereat

"it is better for a thing to have effect than to be made void."

interpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus

"To interpret and harmonize laws with other laws is the best method of interpretation”

distingue tempora et concordabis jura

"distinguish times and you will harmonize laws”