deacon. 1. Eccles. law. In certain churches, a member of the clerical order who assists the priest in various duties, including the presentation of the sacrament. • It is the third order of the Church of England below bishops and priests. A deacon is not allowed to consecrate the Holy Communion or pronounce absolution but […]
predictive theory of law. The view that the law is nothing more than a set of predictions about what the courts will decide in given circumstances. • This theory is embodied in Holmes’s famous pronouncement, “The prophecies of what the courts will do in fact, and nothing more pretentious, are what I mean by the
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decision, n. 1. A judicial or agency determination after consideration of the facts and the law; esp., a ruling, order, or judgment pronounced by a court when considering or disposing of a case. See JUDGMENT(1); OPINION(1). — decisional, adj. appealable decision. A decree or order that is sufficiently final to receive appellate review (such as
law of competence. A law establishing and defining the powers of a government official, including the circumstances under which the official’s pronouncements constitute laws. — Also termed power-delegating law. See jural act under ACT; JURAL AGENT. [Cases: Officers and Public Employees 103. C.J.S. Officers and Public Employees §§ 224–227, 232–233.]
civil code. 1. A comprehensive and systematic legislative pronouncement of the whole private, noncommercial law in a legal system of the continental civil-law tradition. 2. (cap.) The code that embodies the law of France, from which a great part of the Louisiana civil code is derived. — Abbr. CC. — Also termed Code Civil. See
enunciate (i-n[schwa]n-see-ayt), vb. 1. To state publicly; to announce or proclaim (the court enunciated a new doctrine yesterday). 2. To articulate or pronounce (enunciate your syllables more clearly when you speak). — enunciation, n. — enunciable, adj. — enunciator, n.
ex cathedra (eks k[schwa]-thee-dr[schwa] orkath-[schwa]-dr[schwa]), adv. & adj.[Latin “from the chair”] By virtue of one’s high office or position; with authority (ex cathedra pronouncements).
condemnation (kon-dem-nay-sh[schwa]n), n. 1. The act of judicially pronouncing someone guilty; conviction. 2. The determination and declaration that certain property (esp. land) is assigned to public use, subject to reasonable compensation; the exercise of eminent domain by a governmental entity. See EMINENT DOMAIN. excess condemnation. A taking of land in excess of the boundaries of
dictate, vb. 1. To pronounce orally for transcription. 2. To order; to command authoritatively.
fugitation (fyoo-j[schwa]-tay-sh[schwa]n). Hist. A sentence or declaration of fugitive status that was pronounced against an accused person for failing to answer a citation and appear. • The effect was that the person forfeited his or her goods and chattels. — fugitate, vb.