By Steven Rinehart, Partner.
“Regula Pro Lege, Si Deficit Lex … The Latin Sapience of High Judges”
Excerpt: “With any discussion of Latin in the law you will hardly need to stem the flood of enthusiasm from most attorneys, but at common law regula pro lege, si deficit lex was doctrine (if the law is inadequate, the Latin maxim serves in its place). Sir James Mackintosh described Latin maxims in the law as “the condensed good sense of nations.” Black’s Law Dictionary states in the preface, “Latin still supplies a formidable stock of legal terms and phrases. The ability to use a Latin phrase correctly and pronounce it with authority and consistency belongs to the equipment of a well-rounded jurist.” Click to Read or Download Full Article (PDF)