criminal-justice system. The collective institutions through which an accused offender passes until the accusations have been disposed of or the assessed punishment concluded. • The system typically has three components: law enforcement (police, sheriffs, marshals), the judicial process (judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers), and corrections (prison officials, probation officers, and parole officers). — Also termed law-enforcement […]
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lis est sopita (lis est s[schwa]-pI-t[schwa]). [Latin] Hist. The suit is concluded; the issues in a case are decided. — Also termed lis est finita (lis est fi-nI-t[schwa]).
opening the bidding. In a sheriff’s sale of real property, the unethical practice of setting aside the concluded sale to accept a better post-sale offer. — Also termed opening bidding.
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infer, vb. To conclude from facts or from factual reasoning; to draw as a conclusion or inference. Cf. IMPLY(1).
A treaty forbidding the transfer of nuclear weapons from a country with a nuclear arsenal to one that does not have nuclear-weapons capability. • The first such treaty was concluded in 1968, and now more than 100 nations have agreed to its terms. — Also termed nuclear-nonproliferation treaty.
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final, adj. 1. (Of a judgment at law) not requiring any further judicial action by the court that rendered judgment to determine the matter litigated; concluded. 2. (Of an equitable decree) not requiring any further judicial action beyond supervising how the decree is carried out. • Once an order, judgment, or decree is final, it
in cujus rei testimonium (in kyoo-j[schwa]s ree-I tes-t[schwa]-moh-nee-[ schwa]m). [Law Latin] Hist. In witness whereof. • These words were used to conclude deeds. The modern phrasing of the testimonium clause in deeds and other instruments — beginning with in witness whereof — is a loan translation of the Latin.
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In the federal sentencing guidelines, a court’s imposition of a sentence harsher than the standard guidelines propose, as when the court concludes that a criminal’s history did not take into account additional offenses committed while the prisoner was out on bail. [Cases: Sentencing and Punishment 814. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 1479, 1526.]
modus vivendi (moh-d[schwa]s vi-ven-dIor -dee). [Latin “means of living (together)”] Int’l law. A temporary, provisional arrangement concluded between subjects of international law and giving rise to binding obligations on the parties. “[Modus vivendi] is an instrument of toleration looking towards a settlement, by preparing for or laying down the basis of a method of living
certificate of merit. A certificate, signed by the plaintiff’s attorney and filed with the complaint in a civil suit, declaring that the plaintiff’s attorney has conferred with at least one competent expert and afterward concluded that the suit has merit. • Many states have a law mandating certificates of merit in certain types of cases,
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