Ipse dixit is a Latin term that translates to "he himself said it." In legal contexts, it refers to an assertion or statement made by an individual based solely on their own authority, without any supporting evidence or proof. It is often used to criticize arguments or claims that rely solely on the speaker's authority, rather than objective evidence or reasoning.
In legal proceedings, arguments that rely on ipse dixit are generally not considered persuasive, as they lack the necessary factual or legal support to establish their validity. Instead, legal arguments are expected to be based on sound legal principles, objective evidence, and reasoned analysis.
One example of the use of ipse dixit in a legal context can be seen in Earle v. Ratliff, 998 S.W.2d 882, 890 (Tex. 1999), where the court stated that "an expert's simple ipse dixit is insufficient to establish a matter; rather, the expert must explain the basis of his statement to link his conclusions to the facts."
[Last updated in March of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]