legal history

J.D.

Juris Doctor (J.D.) is the professional degree that has been required to practice law in the United States in almost all states for decades. The degree usually requires three years of study involving a wide-range of subjects as set by the...

judicial activism

Judicial activism refers to the practice of judges making rulings based on their policy views rather than their honest interpretation of the current law. Judicial activism is usually contrasted with the concept of judicial restraint, which is...

Judiciary Act of 1789

The Judiciary Act of 1789 is the federal act which established the lower federal courts and other functions of the federal judiciary.

Article III of the Constitution provides that “judicial power of the United States, shall...

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Juris Doctor (J.D.) is the professional degree that has been required to practice law in the United States in almost all states for decades. The degree usually requires three years of study involving a wide-range of subjects as set by the...

King's Bench

King’s Bench is one of three divisional courts in the United Kingdom’s High Court that serves both as a court of original and appellate jurisdiction. King’s Bench (called Queen or King’s bench depending on who is reigning) covers a wide range...

land use

“Land use” is a term that is used to describe the different purposes land may be used for. This includes both economic and cultural uses of land. Common types of land use include:

Agricultural Residential Industrial Commercial...

Law French

Law French refers to an Anglo-Norman dialect of French used in the English courts during the Middle Ages and pre-modern period. Law French saw heavy use for several centuries, until it was gradually replaced by English. Today it survives only...

law in action

Law in action is a term originating with Harvard Law School Dean Roscoe Pound. Law in action means not only learning about legal rules, but also about how the rules evolved to address social concerns and how they operate in the real world....

law in books

"Law in books" refers to laws and legal doctrine contained in bound volumes, such as reporters. Roscoe Pound introduced the term in 1910 in contrast to “law in action” to illustrate the difference between how laws appear in text and their...

Law Latin

Law Latin refers to a form of Latin used in modern legal contexts. It is a type of legal jargon that is used in the United States, as well as in common-law and civil law systems around the world. Law Latin does not exist as a complete...

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