LEGAL LATIN WORDS

        Legal Latin Words

LATIN	MEANING
Lex Prospicit, Non Respicit	The law looks forward, not backward
Lex de Futuro, Judex de Praterio	The law provides for the future, the judge for the past
Absolute Sentencia Expositore Non Indiget	When the language of the law is clear, no explanation of its required
Optima Statuti interpretatix Est Insum Statutum	The best interpreter of the statute is the statute itself
Ratio Legis	Interpretation according to spirit
Ratio Legis Est Anima	The reason of the law is its soul
Cessante Ratione Cesat Ipsa Lex	When the reason for the law ceases, the law ceases also to exist
Expresio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius	Express mention is implied exclusion
Generalia specialibus non derogant	A general law does not nullify a specific or special law
Dura Lex Sed Lex	The law may be harsh but it is still the law
Cogitationis Poenam Nemo Emeret	No man may be punished for his thought
Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea	The act itself does not make a man guilty unless his intention were so
Actus Me Invito Factus Non Est Meus Actus	An act done by me against my will is not my act
Ignorantia Legis Neminem Excusant	Ignorance of the law excuse no one
Ignorantia Facto Excusat	Ignorance or mistake in point of fact is an excuse
Ubi Lex Non Distinguit Nea Nos Distiguere Debemos	Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish
Mens Legislatores	Liberal construction
Reddendo Singula Singulis	Referring each to each
Cassus Omissus Pro Omisso Habbendus Est	A case omitted is to be held as intentionally omitted
Noscitur a sociis	Finding the context
Ejusdem generis	When general words follow the designation of particular things, or classes of persons or subjects, the general words will usually be construed to include only those persons or things of the same class or general nature as those specifically enumerated.