Legal Definitions - ad curiam vocare

ad curiam vocare

This Latin legal phrase means to summon to court. It refers to the formal act of requiring an individual to appear before a judicial body, typically through an official document like a summons or subpoena.

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Imagine a situation where a neighbor witnessed a car accident. The attorneys involved in the case might issue a subpoena to that neighbor, formally compelling them to appear in court to provide testimony about what they saw. This act of issuing the subpoena and requiring their presence is an example of ad curiam vocare, as the neighbor is being summoned to court to participate in the legal proceedings.

• Consider a small business owner who is being sued by a former client for breach of contract. The court will send an official summons to the business owner, notifying them of the lawsuit and requiring their appearance in court on a specific date to respond to the allegations. This formal notification and demand for their presence in court to defend themselves against the civil claim is an instance of ad curiam vocare.

• A citizen might receive a jury summons in the mail, instructing them to report to the courthouse on a particular day for potential jury duty. This official notice is a direct command from the court, requiring the individual's presence to fulfill a civic duty as a potential juror. This process of calling citizens to the courthouse for jury selection is another clear application of ad curiam vocare.