Latin for Lawyers

L ATIN FOR L AWYERS

DICTUM [L. dictare / to say again, repeat] The formal statement or announcement of a rule or principle. An authorita tive declaration. Also, a statement made incidentally or in passing. A conclu sion, line of reasoning or observation of a judge in an opinion which is not central to, or the grounds for, his decision. Because it is not necessary to his decision, it is not binding in subsequent cases. See IPSE DIXIT ; OBITER DICTA DIES, DIEI A day, an anniversary, a designated day. DIES AD QUEM The date to which; the last day. DIES A QUO The date from which; the beginning date. DIES DATUS A given date; a day certain. DIES JURIDICUS A day on which a court may lawfully sit and adjudicate. DIES NON JURIDICUS [L. dies / days + non / not + iurisdictio / the adminis tration of justice] A day on which the courts are closed. Sometimes, a day on which the only judicial business transacted is by a judge in chambers. DIFFERENTIA [L. differre / to spread in several directions, scatter, be differ ent, differ] A feature or characteristic which distinguishes one thing from another. A characteristic trait that separates one class or species from another. Used by scientists and lawyers to classify data. The plural is differentiae . DIGEST [L. digero, digerere, digestum / separate; arrange] A summary or condensation of written material drawn from different sources. In law, a compendium of legal rules, principles or decisions arranged for ease in reference. DILATORY [L. differre / to scatter, defer, delay (pp. dilatum) ] Tending to cause delays; to procastinate. In the law, a dilatory plea or motion is one which delays a trial or determination of the issues in an action. Any tactic employed by a party or his attorney solely for the purpose of delay.

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