Latin for Lawyers

STATUS QUO

nile who has not committed any adult crime but who comes before the crimi nal system because of conduct indicating a failure of parental control. STATUS QUO The existing condition or state of affairs. The posture or position which the parties are occupying or have just occupied. The condition of the parties before any action is taken to change that condition; the existing condition can be preserved by the court through a restraining order or temporary injunction. See IN STATU QUO STATUS QUO ANTE The condition or state which existed before the present condition. On an application by one party to rescind a contract, the court may order rescission and restore the parties to the status quo ante , i.e., the condition which existed for each of them before the contract was executed. STATUTE [L. status / position, state] Any law enacted by a legislature or a body having legislative powers as defined by a constitution or equivalent document. Under international law, a document creating an international agency and defining its powers. Any regu lation, edict or declaration to which the police and the courts accord the force of law. STATUTE OF FRAUDS Any of a series of state laws, all modelled after the English Statute of Frauds, specifying circumstances under which some defined transactions must be in writing to be enforceable. Generally, the statutes require a writing for all real estate contracts and for contracts which cannot be performed within a single year. The Uniform Commercial Code provides that a contract for the sale of goods exceeding $500 in value is enforceable against the person to be charged only if he has signed the contract. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS Any statute which imposes a time limit for the commencement of an action or a prosecution. In civil actions, the time usually begins to run from the time the action accrues; in criminal actions, from the time the crime is committed. The expiration of the statutory period is a complete defense to the action or prosecution. See REPOSE (STATUTE OF) STATUTE OF REPOSE See REPOSE (STATUTE OF)

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