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Ten Tough Legal Terms #1 Trivia Quiz

Ten legal terms: choose the most appropriate evocative comment . . . in ascending order of difficulty.

A multiple-choice quiz by ignotus. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
ignotus

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
242,740

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
2397

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Dictum: why, that's __________ ? Hint

a superfluous comment

slanderous

the law of the case

scandalous

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Nunc pro tunc: let's do it ____________ ? Hint

now and then, but not too often

retroactively

like professionals

dressed in tunics

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. En banc: we need to _________ ? Hint

stop insulting the judge while he's on the bench

make a deposit

take the prisoner to the whipping post

gather the brethren

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Benefit of clergy: You're lucky that ___________ ? Hint

you can read, so they won't hang you

they let someone pray with you in jail

you are ordained, so they can't tax you

you are a law clerk, so they can't arrest you

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Per tout et non per my: that property isn't yours, it's _____________ ? Hint

stolen, so give it back to me

ours; yours and mine

not mine either, so give it to the Judge

meant to be shared with everyone

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Worthier title: 'tis better to be __________ ? Hint

a Prince than a Duke

a Barrister than a Solicitor

a Justice than a Judge

an owner via descent than via devise

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Ancient lights: the Judge says you can't __________ ? Hint

turn off my electricity

block my view

blow out my candles

violate (ancient) Roman law

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Enceinte: congratulations on your _________ ? Hint

appeal

inheritance

parole

pregnancy

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Thelluson Act: you can't __________ ? Hint

graze your cattle on public land

yell fire in a crowded theater

accumulate capital forever

marry your first cousin

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Renvoi: the constable will now ____________ ? Hint

clear the gallery for a secret trial

send the foreign rogue back whence he came

take orders for dinner at the Inns of Court

poll the jury

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Nov 09 2024 : adam36: 7/10
Oct 22 2024 : GBfan: 5/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Dictum: why, that's __________ ?

Answer: a superfluous comment

American courts generally decide only "cases in controversy" -- the facts before them rather than hypothetical variations. The "holding" is the court's application of the law to the actual facts. Dictum (pl. dicta) is a comment that is not based upon the material facts.

2. Nunc pro tunc: let's do it ____________ ?

Answer: retroactively

Basic legal Latin: "now for then." Anybody buy the tunic thing?

3. En banc: we need to _________ ?

Answer: gather the brethren

Literally, "on the bench." This term generally means a rehearing by all judges of a given court -- they need a big "bench" to accommodate everyone. Some American courts call it "in bank."

4. Benefit of clergy: You're lucky that ___________ ?

Answer: you can read, so they won't hang you

In ancient times, literacy was a rare skill -- and capital punishment was all too common. A "cleric" was an individual who could read and write. Only later did it come to mean a religious leader.

5. Per tout et non per my: that property isn't yours, it's _____________ ?

Answer: ours; yours and mine

When spouses take title, the property is theirs "by the entirety" instead of being divided between them.

6. Worthier title: 'tis better to be __________ ?

Answer: an owner via descent than via devise

Under old common law, if property passes under a will to someone who would inherit the same property by descent, then the descent takes precedence. Seriously. People get paid for knowing this sort of thing.

7. Ancient lights: the Judge says you can't __________ ?

Answer: block my view

Under an old rule of law, if windows had an unobstructed view (light) for a period of 20 years, the view could not be blocked by construction on adjoining lands. When I learned this term 30 years ago, the professor bet us we'd never use it again. Now, I win.

8. Enceinte: congratulations on your _________ ?

Answer: pregnancy

Of interest, "enceinte" is also the enclosure of a fortified area or castle. Perhaps it's twins?

9. Thelluson Act: you can't __________ ?

Answer: accumulate capital forever

An Englishman of modest means created a trust that would re-invest interest and dividends for a very long time, thus leaving his remote descendants the richest people in the world. The UK and other countries quickly passed laws prohibiting unreasonable accumulations (also known as the Rule Against Perpetuities).

10. Renvoi: the constable will now ____________ ?

Answer: send the foreign rogue back whence he came

Originally, renvoi allowed a court to deport a foreign criminal or vagabond. Later, this term was used to describe a process of choosing whether to apply the law of the forum or the law of a foreign jurisdiction to a particular case ... but that would take too long to explain, and we have to keep some secrets from laymen!

Source: Author ignotus

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