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Legal Maxims
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Every law has an exception.
Exceptio firmat legem
A promise is a promise. (Promises must be kept.)
Pacta sunt servanda
Where there is the same reason, there is the same law.
Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jus
Laws are silently speaking statues.
Lex est loquens ius
The expression of one thing is the exclusion of another.
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius
Equal protection of laws; equality before the law.
Aequalitas est quasi aequilibrium
That which is not forbidden is permitted.
Quod non prohibetur, permittitur
One who has no interest in the outcome of the case should not be able to testify.
Nemo testis idoneus in propria causa
Customary usage holds the force of law.
Consuetudo pro lege servatur
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Lex talionis
No one should be a judge in his own cause.
Nemo judex in causa sua
What one has promised to do, let him not do harm.
Pacta quae turpem causam continent non sunt observanda
A witness cannot be a judge.
Testis unus testis nullus
No one is punished unless for some wrong act or fault.
Nulla poena sine culpa
The law helps the vigilant, before those who sleep on their rights.
Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt
The written word remains.
Scripta manent
The law does not concern itself with trifles.
De minimis non curat lex
For the public good.
Pro bono publico
An agreement without consideration is void.
Nudum pactum
A law must not be construed to violate the laws of God or nature.
Lex non a rege est violanda
A debt proven in court is conclusive evidence.
Res judicata pro veritate accipitur
Arguments drawn from what is inconvenient are often forcible with the courts.
Argumentum ab inconvenienti plurimum valet in lege
Possession implies a good title in the absence of proof to the contrary.
Possessio est quasi corporealis dominium
Let the buyer beware.
Caveat emptor
To be unwilling to prosecute is to acquit.
Nolle prosequi
It is the duty of the good to prevent evil from occurring when they can.
Boni judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem
He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
In pari delicto, potior est conditio possidentis
It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.
Decem personae quam perdere unum
Death is presumed to be of natural causes, until the contrary is proved.
Mors omnia solvit
Evidence which can be falsified is not sufficient.
Testimonium quod et falsum esse potest, non est idoneum
Where there is a right, there is a remedy.
Ubi jus ibi remedium
He who sues for the king as well for himself.
Qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur
Let all the ends thou aimest at be thy country's, thy God's, and Truth's.
Fiat patria, Dei, et veritatis
He who appoints a thing to be done may himself do it or his agent.
Qui facit per alium facit per se
Let justice be done, though the heavens fall.
Fiat justitia ruat caelum
An act of the court shall prejudice no one.
Actus curiae neminem gravabit
Ignorance of the law excuses no one.
Ignorantia legis neminem excusat
Truth is the mother of justice.
Veritas est justitiae mater
The burden of proof lies on him who affirms, not he who denies.
Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat
A contract is a law between the parties.
Inter partes contractus est lex
Unjust enrichment at the expense of others is not allowed by law.
Injuria non excusat injuriam
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