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Commonly Used Latin Phrases

amicus curiae friend of the court; a person who on invitation of the court, assists the court in any judicial proceedings

certiorari a writ by which a higher court requires an inferior court or tribunal to transfer the record of its proceedings in a case that has been disposed of for review

fait accompli fact or deed accomplished, presumably irreversible

habeas corpus having the body; a writ issued to bring a person before a court, to ensure that their imprisonment is not illegal

in loco parentis in the place of a parent; refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organisation assuming some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent of another

lis refers to a controversy or dispute before a court

locus standi right of a party to appear in court or to bring an action and to be heard

mandamus a command; a writ issued to compel the performance of duty of a public or quasi-public nature

opinio juris opinion of law

prohibition a writ issued by a higher court to an inferior court, preventing the inferior court from usurping jurisdiction with which it is not legally vested

quo warranto by what authority; a writ issued against a person who claims or who usurps any office, to enquire by what authority she or he supports the claim

stricto sensu in the strict sense

suo motu of one’s own motion; when the court initiates proceedings on its own without any party approaching it

ubi jus ibi remedium where there is a right, there is a remedy