100 Legal Maxims for 18th BJS Exam and Law Students.
100 Legal Maxims for 18th BJS Exam and Law Students
1.
A verbis
legis non est recedendum.
a.
From the
words of the law, there must be no departure.
2.
Actus non
facit reum nisi mens sit rea.
a.
The act
does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty (guilty act, guilty
mind).
3.
Aequitas
sequitur legem.
a.
Equity
follows the law.
4.
Audi
alteram partem.
a.
Hear the
other side (no one should be condemned unheard).
5.
Boni
judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem.
a.
It is the
duty of a good judge to enlarge his jurisdiction (i.e., to extend the remedies
of the law).
6.
Cessante
ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex.
a.
The
reason of the law ceasing, the law itself also ceases.
7.
Consensus
ad idem.
a.
Agreement
to the same thing (meeting of the minds).
8.
Contemporanea
expositio est optima et fortissima in lege.
a.
A
contemporaneous exposition is the best and strongest in the law.
9.
De
minimis non curat lex.
a.
The law
does not concern itself with trifles.
10.
Ex nudo
pacto non oritur actio.
a.
From a
nude (bare) pact, no action arises (a contract requires consideration).
11.
Ex turpi
causa non oritur actio.
a.
From a
dishonourable cause, an action does not arise (no right of action on an immoral
or illegal ground).
12.
Falsus in
uno, falsus in omnibus.
a.
False in
one thing, false in all (discredited principle in modern evidence law).
13.
Fiat
justicia ruat caelum.
a.
Let
justice be done, though the heavens fall.
14.
Ignorantia
facti excusat, ignorantia juris non excusat.
a.
Ignorance
of fact excuses, ignorance of law does not excuse.
15.
In pari
delicto potior est conditio defendentis.
a.
Where the
parties are equally at fault, the defendant's position is stronger.
16.
Jus ad
rem.
a.
A right
to a thing (a personal right to property).
17.
Lex non
cogit ad impossibilia.
a.
The law
does not compel the impossible.
18.
Locus
standi.
a.
Place of
standing (right to bring an action in court).
19.
Nemo
debet bis vexari pro una et eadem causa.
a.
No one
should be twice vexed for one and the same cause (double jeopardy).
20.
Nemo
judex in causa sua.
a.
No one
should be a judge in his own cause (rule against bias).
21.
Obiter
dictum.
a.
A thing
said by the way (a remark in a judgment not essential to the decision, not
binding precedent).
22.
Omnia
praesumuntur rite et solemniter esse acta.
a.
All
things are presumed to be done rightly and with due formality.
23.
Pacta
sunt servanda.
a.
Agreements
must be kept.
24.
Res ipsa
loquitur.
a.
The thing
speaks for itself.
25.
Res
judicata pro veritate accipitur.
a.
A decided
matter is accepted as true (a matter already judged).
26.
Salus
populi suprema lex esto.
a.
The
welfare of the people is the supreme law.
27.
Stare
decisis et non quieta movere.
a.
To stand
by things decided and not to disturb the calm (precedent).
28.
Ubi jus
ibi remedium.
a.
Where
there is a right, there is a remedy.
29.
Volenti
non fit injuria.
a.
To a
willing person, no injury is done.
30.
Actio
personalis moritur cum persona.
a.
A
personal action dies with the person.
31.
Ambiguitas
contra stipulatorem est.
a.
Ambiguity
is construed against the party who drafted the clause.
32.
Casus
omissus et oblivioni datus dispositioni communis juris relinquitur.
a.
A case
omitted and given to oblivion is left to the disposition of the common law.
33.
Cuicunque
aliquis quid concedit concedere videtur et id sine quo res ipsa esse non
potest.
a.
To
whomsoever one grants anything, one is considered to grant also that without
which the thing itself cannot exist.
34.
Delegatus
non potest delegare.
a.
A
delegate cannot further delegate.
35.
Expressio
unius est exclusio alterius.
a.
The
expression of one thing is the exclusion of another.
36.
Habeas
corpus ad subjiciendum.
a.
You shall
have the body to produce (a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought
before a judge).
37.
In jure
non remota causa sed proxima spectatur.
a.
In law,
the immediate cause is looked to, not the remote one.
38.
Invito
beneficium non datur.
a.
A benefit
is not conferred on an unwilling person.
39.
Jus
cogens.
a.
Compelling
law (fundamental principles of international law from which no derogation is
permitted).
40.
Lex
semper dabit remedium.
a.
The law
will always give a remedy.
41.
Mala
fide.
a.
In bad
faith.
42.
Ne exeat
regno.
a.
Let him
not leave the kingdom (a writ restraining a person from leaving the country).
43.
Necessitas
non habet legem.
a.
Necessity
has no law.
44.
Non haec
in foedera veni.
a.
These
were not the terms of the agreement.
45.
Nulla
poena sine lege.
a.
No
penalty without a law.
46.
Omne quod
solo inaedificatur solo cedit.
a.
Everything
built on the soil belongs to the soil (fixtures).
47.
Per
incuriam.
a.
Through
lack of care (a judgment made in ignorance of relevant statute/precedent, thus
not binding).
48.
Quid pro
quo.
a.
Something
for something (consideration).
49.
Ratio
decidendi.
a.
The
reason for deciding (the binding part of a judgment).
50.
Respondeat
superior.
a.
Let the
master answer (vicarious liability).
51.
Terra
nullius.
a.
Nobody's
land.
52.
Ultra
vires.
a.
Beyond
the powers.
53.
Verba
chartarum fortius accipiuntur contra proferentem.
a.
Words of
deeds are construed more strongly against the party using them.
54.
Vigilantibus
et non dormientibus aequitas subvenit.
a.
Equity
aids the vigilant, not those who sleep on their rights.
55.
Ad
valorem.
a.
According
to value.
56.
Aliunde.
a.
From
another source.
57.
Bona
vacantia.
a.
Vacant
goods (goods without an owner).
58.
Causa
proxima et non remota spectatur.
a.
The
proximate, not the remote, cause is regarded.
59.
Damnum
sine injuria.
a.
Damage
without injury (damage suffered without a legal wrong).
60.
Ejusdem
generis.
a.
Of the
same kind, class, or nature.
61.
Ex dolo
malo non oritur actio.
a.
An action
does not arise from fraud.
62.
Functus
officio.
a.
Having
discharged one's office (no longer having authority).
63.
In
flagrante delicto.
a.
In
blazing offense (caught in the act).
64.
Inter
vivos.
a.
Between
living persons (e.g., a gift).
65.
Jus non
scriptum.
a.
Unwritten
law (customary law).
66.
Lex loci
actus.
a.
The law
of the place where the act was done.
67.
Modus
operandi.
a.
Method of
operating.
68.
Nemo dat
quod non habet.
a.
No one
gives what he does not have.
69.
Noscitur
a sociis.
a.
It is
known by its associates.
70.
Pari
passu.
a.
On an
equal footing; proportionally.
71.
Per
curiam.
a.
By the
court (an opinion delivered by the whole court rather than an individual
judge).
72.
Prima
facie.
a.
On its face;
at first sight.
73.
Pro bono
publico.
a.
For the
public good.
74.
Quorum.
a.
Of whom
(the minimum number of members that must be present for a meeting to be validly
conducted).
75.
Respondeat
superior.
a.
Let the
master answer (vicarious liability).
76.
Sine qua
non.
a.
Without which
not (an essential condition or prerequisite).
77.
Sui
generis.
a.
Of its
own kind; unique.
78.
Ubi
remedium ibi jus.
a.
Where
there is a remedy, there is a right (converse of Ubi jus ibi remedium).
79.
Verbatim.
a.
Word for
word.
80.
Veto.
a.
I forbid.
81.
Ad hoc.
a.
For this
(purpose); for a specific purpose.
82.
Amicus
curiae.
a.
Friend of
the court.
83.
Bona
fide.
a.
In good
faith.
84.
Caveat
emptor.
a.
Let the
buyer beware.
85.
Corpus
delicti.
a.
Body of
the crime.
86.
Ex parte.
a.
From one
party (a legal proceeding brought by one party without notice to the other).
87.
Ipso
facto.
a.
By the
fact itself.
88.
Lex fori.
a.
Law of
the forum (the law of the place where the action is brought).
89.
Lis
pendens.
a.
A pending
suit.
90.
Nemo
tenetur se ipsum accusare.
a.
No one is
bound to accuse himself (right against self-incrimination).
91.
Pendente
lite.
a.
During
litigation.
92.
Pro rata.
a.
In
proportion.
93.
Quasi.
a.
As if;
seemingly.
94.
Sine die.
a.
Without a
day (indefinitely).
95.
Subpoena.
a.
Under
penalty (a writ commanding a person to appear in court).
96.
Sui
juris.
a.
Of one's
own right (having legal capacity to manage one's own affairs).
97.
Vicinage.
a.
Neighborhood
(local area where a crime was committed, related to jury selection).
98.
Vi et
armis.
a.
With force
and arms (used in trespass actions).
99.
Volens.
a.
Willing.
100.
Nunc pro
tunc. * Now
for then (a legal action taken now with retrospective effect).
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