Montalbo, Claudine Jhean C.2012 Legal Maxims August 25, Stare decisis et non quieta movere. One should follow past precedents and should not disturd what has been settled. 2. Dura lex sed lex. The law may be harsh, but it is still the law 3. Contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege. The contemporary construction is strongest in law. 4. Ratihabitio mandato aequiparatur. Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate. 5. Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium. The interest of the State demands that there be an end to litigation. 6. Verba legis non est recedendum. From the words of a statute there should be no departure. 7. Absoluta sententia expositore non indiget. When the language of the law is clear, no explanation of it is required. 8. Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est. It is exceedingly hard but so tha law is written. 9. Aequitas nunquam contravenit legis. Equity never acts in contravention of the law. 10.Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat. A law should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than destroying it. 11.Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire. Words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the words. 12.Cessante ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex. When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases. 13.Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et absurdum. Where there is ambiguity, such interpretation as will avoid inconvenience and absurdity is to be adopted. 14.Ea est accipienda interpretation quae vitio caret. That interpretation is to be adopted which is free from evil or injustice. 1. Nemo tenetur ad impossibile.Jure naturae aequum est neminem cum alterius detrimento et injuria fieri locupletiorem. that nothing shall be contrary to law and right. The rigor of the law would become the highest injustice.Summum jus.In pari delicto potior est conditio defendentis. Where anything is granted generally.Surplusagium no nocet. ibi remedium. 16. cum de corpore constrat. When the statute is silent or ambiguous. The law obliges no one to perform an impossibility.Ninguno non deue enriquencerse tortizeramente con daño de otro. The expression of one thing is the exclusion of another. In other words. obscure or insufficient with respect to a question before the court will not justify the latter from declining to render judgment thereon. 22. Surplusage does not vitiate a statute. this is one of those fundamental solutions that would respond to the vehement urge of conscience.Ubi jus. 23.Ex dolo malo non oritur action. 28. 19.Utile per inutile non vitiatur. summa injuria. 21. No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own wrongdoing or inequity. ruat coelum.Falsa demonstration non nocet. 27. inest haec exceptio. Let right be done.15. Where there is right. si non aliquid sit contras jus basque.In eo quod plus sit. 30. though the heavens fall. False description preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of the statute which is otherwise clear. simper inest et minus. The greater includes the lesser 26. this exception is implied. there is no obligation to do an impossible thing.Ibi quid generaliter conceditur.Fiat justicia. 25. 17. 18. The fact that a statuteis silent. Useful vitiated by the non-useful. .Impossibilium nulla obligation est.Nullus commodum capere potest de injuria sua propria.Expresio unius est exclusio alterius. No man should be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong. there is a remedy for violation thereof. 29. 24. 20. Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda. 45. A general statement is understood in a general sense. 31.Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sentential. by law. 44. 34. The expression of one thing is the exclusion of another. What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied or negative-opposite doctrine 43.Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est. the rule is dissimilar. A person. Argumentum a contrario. A maxim of recognized utility is the rule that the express exception.Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis. Of things dissimilar. 36. we should not distinguish. What is generally spoken shall be generally understood or general words should be understood in a general sense. than that of the plaintiff. What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied. 33. 42. nec nos distinguere debemus. .In equal fault. object or thing omitted from an enumeration must be held to have been omitted intentionally. prohibetur et per obliquum. better is the condition of the defendant. Where the law does not distinguish.Expressum facit cessare tacitum. exemption or saving excludes others.Verba accipienda sunt secundum materiam. Where a particular word or phrase is ambiguous in itself or is equally susceptible of various meanings. A word is to be understood in the context in which. Relative words refer to the nearest antecedents.Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio. 38.Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum.Ubi lex non distinguit. unless the context otherwise requires. 41.Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo. What cannot. 35.Noscitur a sociis.Expressio unius est exclusio alterius. Where the law does not distinguish. 32. 37. we ought not to distinguish. 39. 40. be done directly cannot be done indirectly. its correct construction may be made clear and specific by considering the company of words in which it is found or with which it is associated.Reddendo singula singulis.Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debemus. or let each be put in its proper place. Distinguish times and you will harmonize laws 51. Statutes enacted for the public good are to be construed liberally.it means that the crown can proceed with actions that would be barred if brought by an individual due to the passage of time. 55.Salus populi est suprema lex. The best interpreter of a statute is the statute itself. A law should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than destroying it. . Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form uniform system of law.Actus me invito factus non est meus actus. 46. That construction is to be sought which gives effect to the whole of the statute – its every word.Interpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus.Privilegia reciprint largam interpretationem voluntati consonam concedentis. The safety of the people is the supreme law.Referring each to each. The laws aid the vigilant.Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. 54. 58.Optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statutum. 57. 52.Interst reinpublicae ut sit finis litium. 56. 49. Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form a uniform system of jurisprudence. 50.Ut res magis valeat quam pereat. Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants them. not those who slumber on their rights.Statuta pro publico commodo late interpretantur. 48.Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea. An act done by me against my will is not my act.Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat.Interpretare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus. 47. the words should be taken distributively.Distingue tempora et concordabis jura. that is. No time runs against the king. 53. The act itself does not make a man guilty unless his intention were so. 59. referring each phrase or expression to its appropriate object.Nullum tempus occurrit regi. 61. The best interpreter of the law is usage.Public interest requires that by the very nature of things there must be an end to a legal controversy. 64. 76. Conscience and good law justify this exception. The law looks forward.Obiter dictum .Generalia specialibus non derogant. A new statute should affect the future. not backward. 63. 77. potior est in jure.Leges posteriors priores contraria ab.Potior est in tempoe. 73.Favorabilia sunt amplianda. nulla poena sine legi. 62.Leges posteriors priores contrarias abrogant. There is no crime without a penalty.Lex de future. A general law does not nullify a specific or special law. adiosa res.Lex prospicit. Speech is the index of intention. without which.Ratio legis est anima The reason of the law is its soul. 72. which is contained in the well-known aphorism. 69. 68. the judge for the past.Optimus interpres rerum usus. non respicit. 66. 75. A later law repeals a prior law on the same subject which is repugnant thereto. He who is first in time preferred in right. 60. 70. and there is no penalty with-out a law. nothing 74. odia restringenda.Verba Legis Plain meaning rule. 65. judex de praeterito.Favores ampliandi sunt.Nova constitutio futuris forman imponere debet non praeteritis. The law provides for the future. Later statute repeals prior ones which are repugnant thereto 67.Nullum crimen sine poena.Index animi sermo est.Ratio legis Interpretation according to the spirit or reason of the law. 71. not the past. Penal laws which are favorable to the accused are given retroactive effect.Maledicta est exposition quae corrumpit textum. It is dangerous construction which is against the text.Sine qua non Indespensable. without any notice being taken. 91.A quo In the absence of a saving clause.Ejusdem generis The same kind or specie 86.In futuro In the future.Mala prohibita Prohibited acts 85.Pari materia Statutes relate to the same person or thing. 88. 82.Quo warranto by what warrant.Ipso facto By the fact itself. 83. a writ requiring that a detained person be brought before a court to decide the legality of the detention or imprisonment in full. 80.Ex post facto Made afterwards.Motu proprio On his own impulse. 81. specifically. 84.Mala in se Acts which are wrong in themselves. especially when having retroactive effect. . 79.Sub silentio Under silence. 78.An observation made by the judge with regards to matters that is secondary to the issue before the court. 92. Relating to same matter.is a prerogative writ requiring the person to whom it is directed to show what authority they have for exercising some right or power they claim to hold.is a document issued by the Pope (or by a monarch) on his own initiative and personally signed by him. 87. 90.Strictissimi juris The most strict right or law. or have the same specific or particular subject matter.Malum prohibitum Penalized for reasons of public policy.it shall take effect upon its approval and not retroactive.Pari delicto In equal fault. 89.Ex necessitate legis From the necessity of the law. 93.Habeas corpus Any of the various writs ordering a person to be brought before a court. Praeter intentionen The injurious result is greater that intended. 100. 95.94.Amicus curiae "friend of the court". 98.Certiorari Writ of error.Ubi jus ibi remidium Where there is right. Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. The name for a brief filed with the court by someone who is not a party to the case.Ignorantia legis non excusat. Such being the case.Ignorantia facti excusat Ignorance or mistake of fact relieves the accused from criminal liability. there is remedy. 96. 99.Ex proprio vigore. final judgments of inferior courts in all criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is death of life imprisonment. the presumption against implied repeal and the rule on strict construction regarding implied repeal apply. 97. 101. . as the law or rules of Court may provide.Aberration ictus There is a mistake in the blow.