Crime Law Phrases

Question 1

nemo judex causa sua

Answer 1

Latin for “no one should be a judge in their own cause”. It is one of the cardinal rules of natural justice that no one should act as a judge a case in which they have a personal (vested) interest.

Nemo judex in causa sua is a principle of natural justice that no person can judge a case in which they have an interest. In many jurisdictions the rule is very strictly applied to any appearance of a possible bias, even if there is actually none: “Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done”.

Question 2

Audi alteram partem

Answer 2

Audi alteram partem is a Latin phrase meaning “listen to the other side”, or “let the other side be heard as well”. It is the principle that no person should be judged without a fair hearing in which each party is given the opportunity to respond to the evidence against them.

Question 3

autrefois convict

Answer 3

: a defendant’s plea stating that he or she has already been tried for and convicted of the same offense.

Question 4

autrefois acquit

Answer 4

: a defendant’s plea stating that he or she has already been tried for and acquitted of the same offense.

Question 5

Ne/Non bis in idem

Answer 5

The ne bis in idem is a criminal law principle under which a person cannot be punished and be subject to several procedures twice for the same facts. In simple terms, the principle pursues to avoid double prosecutions and double punishments.