Legal Definitions - B.S.

B.S. stands for bancus superior.

This Latin term translates to "superior bench" or "higher court." Historically, it referred to a court with significant authority, often possessing broader jurisdiction or appellate powers over lower courts within a judicial system. While not commonly used in modern legal practice, it appears in historical legal texts and scholarship to describe the structure and hierarchy of past judicial systems.

• Example 1: Historical Court Structure

  A legal historian researching the judicial system of a particular European kingdom in the 17th century might describe the highest court of appeal as the bancus superior, distinguishing it from the numerous local and regional courts that handled everyday disputes. The historian would explain that decisions from these lower courts could often be challenged and reviewed by the bancus superior.

  This example illustrates how "bancus superior" is used in historical context to identify a court at the apex of a judicial hierarchy, possessing greater authority than subordinate courts.

• Example 2: Appellate Jurisdiction

  Imagine a fictional historical legal case where a merchant lost a property dispute in a local municipal court. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the merchant might petition the monarch's highest court, referred to in historical documents as the bancus superior, to review the case. The merchant would be seeking to overturn the lower court's decision based on an error of law or procedure.

  Here, "bancus superior" demonstrates its role in appellate jurisdiction, where a higher court reviews decisions made by lower courts.

• Example 3: Scholarly Analysis of Judicial Power

  In an academic paper discussing the evolution of judicial review, a scholar might analyze how certain powers, initially vested in a bancus superior, gradually developed to allow courts to scrutinize the legality of governmental decrees. The paper might trace how the authority of this "superior bench" expanded over centuries to ensure adherence to fundamental laws.

  This example shows "bancus superior" being used in legal scholarship to discuss the historical development of significant judicial powers and the role of high courts in overseeing legal and governmental actions.