Glossary

Ad litem

For the suit or action; an adult appointed as a guardian ad litem to sign court documents for a minor.

Alibi

Elsewhere; an affirmative defense to a criminal charge.

Bona fide

In good faith; expresses honesty, sincerity, or legitimacy.

Causa

Cause; references to causes of action.

Caveat

Beware; used as a warning.

Caveat emptor

Let the buyer beware; a buyer accepts an item 'as is' with all its defects.

Codex

A manuscript parchment or a code of laws.

Consensus

Agreement.

Coram nobis

Before us; a writ issued to correct an injury caused by a mistake made by the court.

Corpus delicti

Evidence that a crime was committed; sometimes used to describe elements of a crime.

Corpus juris

Body of law; the collected laws of the state or country.

De facto

In reality; often used as 'from the fact'.

De jure

Sanctioned by law.

De novo

Anew; appellate court reviews facts by motion de novo.

Duces tecum

Bring with you; a subpoena requiring documents to be brought.

Ergo

Therefore.

Errata

Errors; or an error; clerical errors can be corrected by filing an 'errata'.

Et alia

And others.

Et cetera or etc.

And so on.

Et nunc et semper

From now on.

Exampli gratia or e.g.

For example.

Ex more

According to custom.

Ex officio

By virtue of the office; refers to official acts.

Ex parte

From one side only; contact by a party with a judge without notifying the opponent.

Ex post facto

From what is done afterward; retroactively applied laws.

Habeas corpus

You may have the body; a writ providing relief from illegal imprisonment.

Hic et nunc

Here and now.

Hoc loco

In this place.

Ibidem or ibid.

The same place; used to refer to a previously mentioned citation.

Id est or i.e.

That is.

In absentia

In one’s absence; allows for trial of a defendant not present.

In camera

In chambers; sensitive issue hearings are often held this way.

Incipit

Here begins.

Indicia

Signs or marks.

In extenso

Word for word.

In extremis

At the point of death.

In flagrante delicto

While the wrong is blazing; describes a crime observed at its commission.

Infra

Below.

In limine

On the threshold.

In loco parentis

In the place of the parent.

In perpetuum

Forever; relates to the rule of perpetuity in real estate.

In re

Regarding.

In se

In itself.

In situ

In its natural location.

In statu quo

In the same state.

Inter alia

Among other things.

Inter alios

Among other persons.

Inter nos

Between or among ourselves.

Inter paras

Between or among equals.

Inter se

Between or among themselves.

Inter vivos

Between living persons; relates to trusts and wills.

In toto

Entirely.

Intra vires

Within the powers.

Ipse dixit

He himself has said it; refers to an unsupported assertion.

Ipso facto

By that very fact.

Lex loci

The law of the place.

Licet

It is allowed.

Lis pendens

A pending suit.

Loco citato

In the place cited.

Locum tenens

A substitute or deputy; often refers to temporary contracts.

Locus delicti

The scene of the crime.

Locus in quo

The place in question.

Loquitor

He or she speaks.

Mala fide

In bad faith.

Mala in se

Bad in itself; describes certain crimes.

Malo animo

With evil intent.

Mandamus

We command; a petition for a writ of mandamus.

Manu propria

By one’s own hand.

Mea culpa

I am to blame.

Me iudice

In my opinion.

Modus operandi

Manner of working; describes the usual way a criminal operates.

Multum in parvo

Much in little.

Nolo contendere

I do not wish to contend; a plea of no contest.

Non obstante

Notwithstanding.

Non sequitur

It does not follow; describes an unjustified conclusion.

Obiter dictum

An incidental remark; a comment in a published opinion.

Onus probandi

The burden of proof.

Pendente lite

While the suit is pending.

Per annum

Annually.

Per capita

Individually.

Per contra

On the contrary.

Per diem

Daily.

Per incuriam

Through carelessness.

Per interim

Meanwhile.

Per se

Intrinsically.

Per stirpes

By the roots; often used in trusts.

Persona grata

An acceptable person.

Posse comitatus

A posse; citizens assisting in police activities.

Post mortem

An autopsy.

Prima facie

At first sight.

Pro bono publico or pro bono

For the public good.

Pro forma

As a formality.

Pro rata

In proportion.

Pro tempore or pro tem

Temporarily; attorneys sit as judges in this manner.

Post scriptus or P.S.

A postscript.

Punctatum

Point for point.

Quaere verum

Seek the truth.

Quasi

Sort of; as if.

Quid pro quo

This for that; something given in return.

Quo iure or quo jure

By what right?