Legal Definitions - ante meridiem

Ante meridiem is a Latin phrase that translates to "before noon." It is widely used to denote any time occurring from midnight up to, but not including, 12:00 p.m. (noon). The common abbreviations for ante meridiem are a.m. or A.M.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of ante meridiem in a legal context:

• Court Filing Deadline: A court order specifies that all motions for summary judgment must be filed with the clerk's office by 11:00 a.m. on the designated date.

  Explanation: This means that the legal documents must be submitted to the court before noon on the specified day. Any filing received at 12:00 p.m. or later would be considered untimely according to the court's deadline.

• Scheduled Hearing Time: A judge sets a pre-trial conference for 9:00 a.m. on Monday to discuss the upcoming trial schedule.

  Explanation: The conference is scheduled to commence at 9:00 in the morning, which is a time that falls within the ante meridiem period, meaning it occurs before noon.

• Legal Notice Delivery: A law firm sends a courier to deliver an urgent legal notice to an opposing counsel's office, with instructions for delivery no later than 10:30 a.m.

  Explanation: The deadline for the delivery of the legal notice is set for 10:30 in the morning, clearly indicating a time before noon, ensuring the recipient receives it well in advance of the midday point.