QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024
ad hoc
for this purpose only
ab ovo
from the egg - at the beginning, from the start
ad curiam
to (at) court
ad infinitum
to infinity - without limit, indefinitely
ad litem
to the suit - for the purposes of a lawsuit, pending a lawsuit: A guardian ad litem is appointed to act
on behalf of an incompetent.
ad nauseam
to the point of inducing nausea
NOTE: It is NOT spelled nauseum.
ad testificandum
for testifying - subpoena to appear in court and testify
alter ego
another self
Also, the doctrine that a corporation may not be used as a sham to insulate shareholders from liability
for their own private actions.
amicus curiae (singular)
amici curiae (plural)
friend of the court - third party filing a brief to support a specific position
ante litem
before trial
arguendo
arguing; for the sake of argument:
Assuming, arguendo, that my friend is correct, i will defer to him.
bona fide
in good faith - open, sincere
, caveat
beware - warning
caveat emptor
let the buyer beware
caveat venditor
let the seller beware
certiorari
to be informed of - writ from a higher to a lower court, ordering a transcript of proceedings for
appellate review
chattel
cattle (Old English - an article of personal or movable property
compos mentis
sane, of sound mind
corpus
body - any set of materials; total assets in an estate or trust
corpus juris = body of law
corpus delecti
body of a crime - item upon which a crime has been committed: In murder, the corpus delecti is the
victim's body; in arson, the burnt property.
culpa
fault - negligence
cum laude
with praise - an honor granted with a college degree
curriculum vitae
course of life - a resume of one's career, qualifications, and professional history.
de facto
in fact - actual and real in fact:
The usurper was the de facto president, but was not recognized elsewhere.
de jure
in law - legal, proper, legitimate: He fled when the revolution began, but was still, de jure, the king.
de juris