authentication, n. 1. Broadly, the act of proving that something (as a document) is true or genuine, esp. so that it may be admitted as evidence; the condition of being so proved (authentication of the handwriting). [Cases: Criminal Law 444; Evidence 366–381.] 2. Specif., the assent to or adoption of a writing as one’s own. […]
body of a claim. Patents. The portion of a patent claim that defines the elements or steps of the invention. • The body of the claim follows the preamble and transition phrase. In a combination claim, the body of a claim sets forth the elements of a patentable combination. Cf. PREAMBLE(2); TRANSITION PHRASE.
malum prohibitum (mal-[schwa]m proh-hib-i-t[schwa]m), n. [Latin “prohibited evil”] An act that is a crime merely because it is prohibited by statute, although the act itself is not necessarily immoral. • Misdemeanors such as jaywalking and running a stoplight are mala prohibita, as are many regulatory violations. Pl. mala prohibita. Cf. MALUM IN SE. — malum
de malo (dee mal-oh). [Law Latin] Of illness. • This term defined certain legal excuses, such as de malo lecti (“of illness in bed”), de malo veniendi (“of illness or misfortune in coming where the court is”), and de malo villae (“of illness in town where the court is”).
A quorum calculated with reference to some defined or assumed set, usu. either the number of seats (including vacancies) or the number of sitting members (excluding vacancies).
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heirloom. 1. An item of personal property that by local custom, contrary to the usual legal rule, descends to the heir along with the inheritance, instead of passing to the executor or administrator of the last owner. • Traditional examples are an ancestor’s suit of armor, family portraits, title deeds, and keys. Blackstone gave a
disorderly person. 1. A person guilty of disorderly conduct. [Cases: Disorderly Conduct 3. C.J.S. Disorderly Conduct § 7.] 2. A person who breaches the peace, order, decency, or safety of the public, as defined by statute. “Ordinarily, a person who is guilty of disorderly conduct is a ‘disorderly person,’ but where statutes define ‘a disorderly
vagrancy (vay-gr[schwa]n-see), n. 1. The state or condition of wandering from place to place without a home, job, or means of support. • Vagrancy is generally considered a course of conduct or a manner of living rather than a single act. But under some statutes, a single act has been held sufficient to constitute vagrancy.
circuit-riding, n. The practice of judges’ traveling within a legislatively defined circuit to hear cases in one place for a time, then another, and so on. • The American practice of circuit-riding was based on the English eyre system, in which justices rode between the shire towns to hold assizes. “The Judiciary Act of 1789
general maritime law. The body of U.S. legal precedents and doctrines developed through caselaw in maritime and admiralty litigation. • General maritime law is a branch of federal common law. It is distinguished from statutory law. Cf. MARITIME LAW; LAW OF THE SEA. “The general maritime law is characterized by the expansive and dominant role
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