“The doctor has declared him Non compos mentis; he will be unable to stand trial”
If you’ve watched an episode of Law and Order, then you will have heard something like that. The legal system and all of its parts are littered with Latin words and phrases. You hear things like alibi and alias from police officers. You also hear words like ex post facto, pro bono, and affidavit from the courtroom. Lawyers seem to spout Latin left and right.
Another part of the judicial system that work both with the lawyers and police is the forensic science groups.
The world of forensic science, which actually encompasses more than I thought, they often use Latin.
Forensic science, also know as Forensics is an application of science, more specifically a form of the scientific method, which are there to help the judicial system. Everything within the forensic sciences can be used in the interest of our legal system and include branches like: forensic medicine, pathology, toxicology, psychology, anthropology, DNA fingerprints, marks of violence, and many more. Each of these sciences are used to help our judicial system and are filled with Latin words.
An autopsy can also be called a postmortem (after death).
To abet someone with a crime, in other words it is to assist or goad someone into a crime. Abet is one of those funny modern Latin words but it has its roots in apere meaning to join or connect. The p probably changed to a b with time.
The reason Latin is still thrown around the legal system is because of Rome. Rome still has a strong influence on the legal systems of most western countries. Rome conquered much and only implemented their legal system where they went. When the Roman Empire fell, the “new” legal systems were adapted into the lands. The United States has a variation of Roman “Common Law.”
There are many terms and sayings tossed around the legal system. Many of those terms are Latin or are at least based in Latin. Our whole legal system still has its roots in ancient Rome. Lawyers and police have to learn to understand some Latin, another daily use of this language.
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