Latin Terms

a fortiori with stronger reason

a priori from what goes before; from the cause to the effect

ab initio from the beginning

abjure to reject, renounce

abrogate to abolish, usually by authority

abstract a summary of the important point or points of a text; an overview. You will see a summary of a case right at the beginning of the case in most reporters. The individual head notes or points of law at the beginning of a case in most reporters are often called abstracts. Abstracts are also known as squibs.

acerbic biting, bitter in tone or taste

acrimony bitterness, discord

act another term for a statute.

actiones in personam personal actions

acumen keen insight

ad curiam before the court, to the court

ad damnum clause to the damage, clause of complaint which states plaintiff's monetary loss

ad faciendum to do

ad hoc for this purpose, for this occasion

ad litem for the suit; for the litigation (a guardian ad litem, for example)

ad rem to the thing at hand

ad valorem according to the value (an ad valorem tax, for example)

administrative code a collection of adminitrative regulations organized by subject matter rather than by date. A good example would be the Code of Federal Regulations which organizes all of the federal government regulations. Some states will also have administrative codes.

adumbrate to sketch out in a vague way

advance session law service same as a legislative service

advance sheets A paper pamphlet that comes out before a later pamphlet or hardcover volume. Usually you see this with the West reporters. Four to Five paper volumes will come out that are then collated into one hardbound volume. When the hardbound volume comes into your office you may then throw out the paper volumes. Many librarians are afraid to throw out the advance sheets when the hardbound volume has come in. Just make sure you have the correct hard bound volume and you can ignore the old advance sheets. They will be superfluous...