liberam legem amittere
liberam legem amittere (lib-[schwa]r-[schwa]m lee-j[schwa]m [schwa]-mit-[schwa]-ree). [Latin] Hist. To lose one’s free law. • This phrase refers to falling, by crime or infamy, from the status of libera lex. By what was known as a “villenous judgment,” a person would be discredited as juror and witness, would forfeit goods and chattels and lands for life, would have his houses razed and trees uprooted, and would go to prison. This was the ancient punishment of a conspirator and of a party involved in a wager of battle who cried “craven.” — Also termed amittere liberam legem; amittere legem terrae (“to lose the law of the land”). See VILLENOUS JUDGMENT.
