LEGAL MAXIMS FOR CRIMINAL COURT

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  1. Accessorium non ducit sed sequitur suum principale – An accessory does not draw, but follows its principal.
  2. Accessorius sequitur – One who is an accessory to the crime cannot be guilty of a more serious crime than the principal offender.
  3. Acta exteriora iudicant interiora secreta – Outward acts indicate the inward intent.
  4. Actio non datur non damnificato – An action is not given to one who is not injured.
  5. Actio non accrevit infra sex annos – The action has not accrued within six years.
  6. Actio personalis moritur cum persona – A personal action dies with the person.
  7. Actori incumbit onus probandi – The burden of proof lies on the plaintiff.
  8. Actus nemini facit injuriam – The act of the law does no one wrong.
  9. Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea – The act does not make one guilty unless there be a criminal intent.
  10. Ad quaestionem facti non respondent judices; ad quaestionem legis non respondent juratores – The judges do not answer to a question of fact; the jury do not answer to a question of Law.
  11. Aedificare in tuo proprio solo non licet quod alteri noceat – It is not lawful to build on one’s own land what may be injurious to another.
  12. Aequitas legem sequitur – Equity follows the law.
  13. Alibi – At another place, elsewhere.
  14. Allegans contraria non est audiendus – One making contradictory statements is not to be heard.
  15. Allegans contraria non est audiendus – One making contradictory statements is not to be heard.
  16. Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur – A patent ambiguity is never helped by averment.
  17. Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur – A patent ambiguity is never helped by averment.
  18. Argumentum ab auctoritate fortissimum est in lege – An argument drawn from authority is the strongest in law.
  19. Arma in armatos sumere jura sinunt – The laws permit the taking up of arms against the armed.
  20. Assentio mentium – The meeting of minds, i.e. mutual assent.
  21. Audi alteram partem – Hear the other side.
  22. Bona fide – Sincere, in good faith
  23. Causa proxima, non remota spectatur – The immediate, and not the remote cause is to be considered.
  24. Consensus ad idem – Agreement as to the same things.
  25. Corpus delicti – The body, i.e. the gist of crime
  26. Crimen omnia ex se nata vitiat – Crime vitiates every thing, which springs from it.
  27. Crimen trahit personam – The crime carries the person.
  28. Cursus curiae est lex curiae – The practice of the court is the law of the court.
  29. Damnum sine injuria – damage without legal injury.
  30. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat – The burden of the proof lies upon him who affirms, not he who denies.
  31. Ex dolo malo actio non oritur – A right of action cannot arise out of fraud.
  32. Ex praecedentibus et consequentibus optima fit interpretatio – The best interpretation is made from things preceding and following.
  33. Falsa demonstratio non nocet – A false description does not vitiate.
  34. Fatetur facinus qui judicium fugit – He who flees judgment confesses his guilt.
  35. Fraus est celare fraudem – It is a fraud to conceal a fraud.
  36. Frustra probatur quod probatum non relevat – That is proved in vain which when proved is not relevant.
  37. Habemus optimum testem confitentem reum – We have the best witness, a confessing defendant.
  38. Ignorantia facti excusat, ignorantia juris non excusat – Ignorance of fact excuses, ignorance of law does not excuse.
  39. Impotentia excusat legem – Impossibility is an excuse in the law.
  40. In alta proditione nullus potest esse acessorius; sed principalis solum modo – In high treason no one can be an accessory; but a principal only.
  41. In criminalibus probationes debent esse luce clariores – In criminal cases the proofs ought to be cleared than the light.
  42. Intentio inservire debet legibus, non leges intentioni – Intention ought to be subservient to the laws, not the laws to the intention.
  43. Judicis est judicare secundum allegata et probata – It is the duty of a judge to decide according to the allegations and the proofs.
  44. Jus dicere, non jus dare – To declare the law, not to make the law.
  45. Justitia est duplec; severe puniens et vere praeveniens – Justice is two-fold; severely punishing and in reality prohibiting (offences).
  46. Lex non deficere potest in justitia exhibenda – The law cannot fail in dispensing justice.
  47. Sublato fundamento cadit opus –  Foundation being removed structure falls .
  48. Suppressio veri expressio falsi – A suppression of truth is equivalent to an expression of falsehood.
  49. Ut poena ad paucos, metus ad omnes, perveniat – That punishment may come to a few, the fear of it should affect all.
  50. Voluntas in delictis non exitus spectatur – In offences the intent and not the result is looked at.