Legal Definitions - acquietatus

The term acquietatus (pronounced ah-kwee-eh-TAH-tus) is a historical legal term from Law Latin.

It describes the legal status of someone who has been declared not guilty by a jury in a trial. Essentially, it means to be acquitted or cleared of criminal charges by a jury's verdict.

• Example 1: In a 17th-century English court, a farmer accused of poaching was brought before a jury. After hearing testimony and evidence, the jury deliberated and ultimately found him "not guilty." Following this verdict, the farmer was considered acquietatus, meaning he was legally absolved of the poaching charge.

  Explanation: This example illustrates the historical application of the term, where a jury's decision to declare someone "not guilty" resulted in their status as acquietatus, freeing them from the accusation.

• Example 2: Imagine a defendant in a modern criminal trial, charged with grand larceny. After a week-long trial, the jury returns a verdict of "not guilty," concluding that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. In historical legal terms, this defendant would be acquietatus, having been formally cleared of the charges by the jury.

  Explanation: This scenario connects the historical term to its modern equivalent, showing that the fundamental outcome – being found not guilty by a jury – is what acquietatus signifies, regardless of the specific era.

• Example 3: During a period when trials were often public spectacles, a merchant accused of fraud faced a jury of his peers. Despite strong public sentiment against him, the jury, after careful consideration of the presented facts, could not reach a unanimous decision of guilt and ultimately declared him "not guilty." From that moment, the merchant's legal standing was acquietatus, confirming his official exoneration from the accusation.

  Explanation: This example emphasizes the resulting legal status and public declaration of innocence that came with being acquietatus, highlighting the finality of a jury's "not guilty" verdict.