Latin for Lawyers

FORENSIC [L. forensis / relating to the market or forum; relating to the legal proceedings of the Roman forum] Relating to, used in or useful for the courts and for judicial determinations. The application of scientific knowledge to law and legal issues. Forensic medicine, for example is the discipline which relates all of medicine to the needs and purposes of the law. The medical data which are submitted to and considered by the courts in civil and criminal actions. Used also in forensic engineering, forensic linguisrics, etc. See FORUM FORFEIT, FORFEITURE [L. foris / outside + facio, facere / to make, do] To give up or lose as the result of some error or offense. To pay an unwilling price for. To lose a right or privilege in consequence of some action or failure to act, as for a breach of contract or a failure to appear in court. To become liable for the payment of a sum of money or the loss of property after a crim inal act. Several federal statutes provide for the forfeiture of assets as a pen alty for commission of a crime. Also, the divestiture of assets without compensation. A judicial act resulting in the deprivation of a party’s property, as the forfeiture of bail (resulting from the bail bondsman’s failure to secure the court appearance of a defendant). FORMA PAUPERIS See IN FORMA PAUPERIS FORO SECULARI [L. forum / an open place, a market place, a place of public business + saeculum / a generation, the current period, these times] A secular or civil, as opposed to ecclesiastical, court. FORTIOR [L. fortis / strong] Stronger, more powerful. Used to describe evidence which is persuasive enough to shift the burden of proof from one party in the litigation to the other. See A FORTIORI

FORTIOR EST CUSTODIA LEGIS QUAM HOMINIS The law is a more forceful custodian (of rights) than man.

FORTUITOUS [L. fortuitus / accidental, casual, occurring by chance] An event or act which happens accidentally and without human planning or intervention. An unavoidable event. The law of insurance deals with reim bursement and compensation for fortuitous events .

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