Dictionary of Law
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ex post facto :: legal definition


Ex post facto - adj. Latin for "after the fact," which refers to laws adopted after an act is committed making it illegal although it was legal when done, or increasing the penalty for a crime after it is committed. Such laws are specifically prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 9. Therefore, if a state legislature or Congress enacts new rules of proof or longer sentences, those new rules or sentences do not apply to crimes committed before the new law was adopted.


Related Law Terms

administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
admiralty :: n. concerning activities which occur at sea, inclu ... "proctors." See also: maritime law
advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent
burglary :: n. the crime of breaking and entering into a struc ... le. See also: breaking and entering
case law :: n. reported decisions of appeals courts and other ... es. See also: case system precedent
civil :: adj. 1) that part of the law that encompasses busi ... also: civil liberties civil rights
concurrent sentences :: n. sentences for more than one crime which are to ... ith the longest period controlling.
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
exclusionary rule :: n. the rule that evidence secured by illegal means ... e poisonous tree motion to suppress
false arrest :: n. physically detaining someone without the legal ... sment. See also: false imprisonment
felony :: n. 1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishabl ... ion. See also: misdemeanor sentence
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
information :: n. an accusation or criminal charge brought by the ... Jury indictment preliminary hearing
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
lineup :: n. a law enforcement method used in an attempt to ... entification is precarious at best.
maxims :: n. a collection of legal truisms which are used as ... e and the ordinary habits of life."
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
presumption :: n. a rule of law which permits a court to assume a ... resumption at all, but a certainty.
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
sentence :: 1) n. the punishment given to a person convicted o ... ence restitution suspended sentence
shield laws :: n. statutes enacted in some states which declare t ... See also: privileged communication
tort :: n. from French for "wrong," a civil wrong or wrong ... nce slander trespass wrongful death
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
withdrawal :: n. 1) in criminal law, leaving a conspiracy to com ... count. See also: check renunciation

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - E

earnest payment :: n. a deposit paid to demonstrate commitment and to ... (liquidated) or committed damages.
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
egress :: n. way of departure. A word usually used in conjun ... unction with "access" or "ingress."
EIR :: n. popular acronym for environmental impact report ... e also: environmental impact report
ejectment :: n. a lawsuit brought to remove a party who is occu ... o the property through her parents.
ejusdem generis :: (eh-youse-dem generous) v adj. Latin for "of the s ... t was of land-based transportation.
elder law :: n. a specialty in legal practice, covering estate ... t field. (definition revised: 9/02)
election of remedies :: n. an outmoded requirement that if a plaintiff (pa ... dence has not been fully presented.
election under the will :: n. in those states which have statutes which give ... arries) left to her under his will.
eleemosynary :: (eh-luh-moss-uh-nary) adj. charitable, as applied ... pplied to a purpose or institution.
element :: n. 1) an essential requirement to a cause of actio ... of action crime general plan zoning
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
embezzlement :: n. the crime of stealing the funds or property of ... in trust. See also: embezzler theft
embezzler :: n. a person who commits the crime of embezzlement ... r property of an employer or trust.
emblements :: n. crops to which a tenant who cultivated the land ... ome the property of his/her estate.
emergency :: n. a sudden, unforeseen happening which requires a ... r to protect lives and/or property.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
emolument :: n. salary, wages and benefits paid for employment ... d for employment or an office held.
emotional distress :: n. an increasingly popular basis for a claim of da ... ar value upon it. See also: damages
employee :: n. a person who is hired for a wage, salary, fee o ... ondeat superior scope of employment