Law Faculty

Obiter Dicta – Things which are said in passing. Remarks of a judge which are not necessary to reaching a decision, but are made as comments, illustrations or thoughts. Omne sacramentum debet esse de certa scientia – Every oath ought…

Nam nemo haeres viventis – For no one is an heir of a living person. Naturae vis maxima est – The force of nature is the greatest. Necessitas non habet legem – Necessity has no law. Necessitas publica est major…

Major continet in se minus – The greater contains the less. Mala fide – In bad faith. Mala grammatica non vitiat chartam – Bad grammar does not vitiate a deed. Mala in se – Bad in themselves. Mala prohibita –…

Laissez-faire – Political theory where a government does nothing to control the market. The policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering. Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant – Subsequent laws repeal prior conflicting ones. Legibus sumptis desinentibus…

Jetsam – Cargo which is thrown off a sinking ship. Judex est lex loquens – A judge is the law speaking. Judex non potest esse testis in propira causa – A judge cannot be witness in his own cause. Judex…

Id est (i.e) – That is. Id quod commune est, nostrum esse dicitur – That which is common is said to be ours. Idem – The same person or thing. Ignorantia legis neminem excusat- Ignorance of law is no excuse.…

Habeas Corpus – You have the body. A writ (court order) that commands an individual or a government official who has restrained another to produce the prisoner at a designated time and place so that the court can determine the…

Generale nihil certum implicat – A general expression implies nothing certain. Generalia praecedunt, specialia sequuntur – Things general precede, things special follow. Generalia specialibus non derogant – Things general do not derogate from things special. General statements or provisions do…

Faciendum – Something which is to be done. Fatum – Beyond human foresight. Factum – An act or deed. Factum probanda – Fact in issue, which is to be proved. Factum probans – Relevant fact. Facultas probationum non est angustanda…

Ei incumbit probatio qui – The onus of proving a fact rests upon the man. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat – The burden of the proof lies upon him who affirms, not he who denies. Ejusdem generis…

Damnum sine injuria – Damage without legal injury. Del credre agent – Is a mercantile agent who in consideration of extra remuneration called a del credre commission undertakes to indemnify his principle against loss arising from the failure of persons with…

Cadit quaestio –  “the question falls” or “argument collapses.” The matter admits of no further argument. Caveat – A caution registered with the public court to indicate to the officials that they are not to act in the matter mentioned in…

Benignior sententia in verbis generalibus seu dubiis est preferenda – The more favorable construction is to be placed on general or doubtful words. Bis dat qui cito dat – He gives (pays) twice who pays promptly. Bona fide – Sincere,…

• A fortiori - for a strong reason.
• A priori - from the antecedent to the consequent.
• A vinculo matrimoni– from the bond of matrimony.
• Ab extra - from outside.
• Ab initio - from the start or inception.