Latin for Lawyers

DOWER

participation as partner is not disclosed and who takes no active role in man agement. DOWER [L. dotare / to give a dowry; to endow] The life estate of a widow in the land owned by her husband at his death. In some states, the life estate has been expanded into fee ownership. In many states, dower has been abolished and replaced by the widow’s statutory elec tive share. DRACONIAN [L. draco / a snake or dragon (from the Greek Draco , referring to an Athenian who imposed a severe code of laws upon the popu lace)] A cruel or severe law, ruling or decision. Any edict, order, judgment or law which is unreasonably or excessively harsh or severe. DUAL [L. duo / two] Consisting of two parts. Divided into two components. The dual capacity doctrine enables an employee to recover from his employer for injuries sus tained under the general principles of tort law instead of under workers' com pensation, if the injuries are unrelated to his employment. Dual citizenship is conferred upon an individual when the laws of two countries recognize him as a citizen. A citizen of the United States is permitted to establish dual citi zenship in another country. All citizens of the United States are citizens of the nation and also of the state in which they reside. One consequence of this dual federal-state citizenship is that both the federal government and the state may prosecute a criminal defendant without invoking double jeopardy, so long as the crime committed violates the laws of both. This is known as the dual sovereignty doctrine . DUCES TECUM [L. ducere / to bring or take (with one) + tu, te / you + cum / with] Literally, bring with you. The name for a subpeona or writ which requires a party or witness to produce and bring with him documents, papers, records or other evidence relevant to a case, trial or controversy. See SUBPEONA DUCES TECUM DUE DILIGENCE See DILIGENCE DUE PROCESS See PROCEDURAL DUE PROCESS; SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS

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