Latin for Lawyers

L ATIN FOR L AWYERS

VENIREMAN [L. venire / to come] Any citizen whose name has been drawn as a potential juror and who is sum moned to serve as a juror. The process by which attorneys question a venire man to determine his qualifications to serve the jury is called the voir dire . VENIT ET DICIT [L. venio , venire / to come + et / and + dico , dicere / to say] He comes and says. Descriptive of a witness. VENTURE [L. venire ] To go forth. To risk, hazard or gamble. To undertake the risks of. To brave or proceed in the face of danger. An undertaking or enterprise involving risk or uncertainty, especially one directed at earning a profit. A speculation. Venture capital is money invested in a new start-up company or a company with a new product or technique with the intent to reap above-average profits; capi tal contributed by investors who are willing to speculate in untested enter The place in which the facts alleged, or the facts which give rise to a cause of action, occurred. Also, the district in which a panel of jurors is drawn. In criminal law, the place in which an indictment is returned. Venue deals with the place in which a case should be heard, not with the power of the court to hear the case (i.e., jurisdiction). In the federal courts, venue is the place in which a case is brought or is pending. VERACITY [L. verax , veracis / to speak the truth; be truthful] Adherence or fidelity to the truth. Anything true or honest. VERBA ALIQUID OPERARI DEBENT Words should be construed so as to create some impact or effect. VERBAL [L. verbum / a word] Of or relating to words. Descriptive of words rather than action. The spoken word. By word of mouth. A verbal act is spoken language which consitutes the transaction itself or the crime itself. Verbal acts are admitted over hearsay objections if they show the motive, character and intent of the speaker. A ver bal will is an oral will. VERBA PRECARIA [L. verbum / word + precarius / something begged for] Precatory language or words. Precatory words are words which ask, request, recommend or instruct but which do not order or command. A testator may use precatory language to instruct his executor or to recommend some action by the executor, but the executor is not bound to follow them. See PRECATORY prises with the potential for unusual capital gains or income. VENUE [L. venire / to come or vicinus / near, neighboring]

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