Latin for Lawyers

BONI ET LEGALES HOMINES

BONI ET LEGALES HOMINES Good and lawful men. Said of men qualified to be jurors. BONIS NON AMOVENDIS

A writ issued by the court to a sheriff directing him not to allow a judgment debtor to remove his goods from the court’s jurisdiction until a writ of error could be heard. BONOS MORES [L. bonos + moralis / morals] Good morals. The state of being ethical and virtuous. See CONTRA BONOS MORES BONUS [L. bonus / good] Compensation above what is due and expected. Money in excess of agreed upon compensation. BREVE [L. brevis / short, in time or space] A short note. In Roman times, a writ which was issued by the ruler or a tribu nal ordering an appearance, action or response by the person addressed. A brief, a writ. BREVE DE RECTO [L. breve + de / of, from + regere / to guide, rule] A writ as of right. BREVIA JUDICALIA Judicial writs. BRIEF [L. brevis / a short period; short in space or time] Short in duration. Concise. A summary of the legal arguments submitted by counsel to the court in support of a motion or on a point of law being consid ered by the court. A brief usually cites cases decided or cited by the court and by other courts relevant to the matters at issue. A brief is also any memoran dum written by a law clerk or associate to guide the lawyer in charge of a matter. BRUTUM FULMEN [L. brutus / immoveable, without feeling + fulmen / a thunderbolt] Literally, inert thunder. An empty or ineffectual threat or charge; a judicial order or decree which cannot be enforced, as an order by a federal court directed to Congress as a body.

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