Legal Definitions - de iis qui ponendi sunt in assisis

de iis qui ponendi sunt in assisis

This is a historical legal term originating from medieval England, specifically referring to a statute enacted during the reign of King Edward I. The phrase translates from Law Latin as "of those who are to be put on assizes," and its primary function was to establish the qualifications and criteria for individuals eligible to serve as jurors in the royal courts, known as assizes.

In essence, this statute laid down the rules for who could be selected for jury duty, often specifying requirements related to property ownership, social standing, and age, thereby determining which members of society were deemed fit to participate in judicial proceedings.

• Example 1: Assembling a Jury in a Medieval Land Dispute

  Consider a local sheriff in 13th-century England tasked with forming a jury for a trial involving a dispute over land ownership. The sheriff would consult the provisions of de iis qui ponendi sunt in assisis to identify suitable candidates from the community. This statute would dictate, for instance, that jurors must be free men holding a certain amount of land or possessing a minimum annual income, thereby ensuring that only individuals meeting these specific property and social qualifications could be selected to hear the case.

• Example 2: Challenging a Potential Juror's Eligibility

  During a medieval trial, if one of the parties involved believed that a potential juror was not qualified to serve, they could raise an objection. They might argue that the individual did not meet the specific property or social status requirements outlined in de iis qui ponendi sunt in assisis. By citing this statute, the challenging party would assert that the person was not legally "of those who are to be put on assizes" and therefore should be excluded from the jury.

• Example 3: Historical Analysis of Jury Composition

  A modern legal historian studying the development of the English jury system might analyze de iis qui ponendi sunt in assisis to understand the social and economic biases inherent in jury selection during the late 13th century. By examining the mandated qualifications, the historian could deduce which segments of society were empowered to participate in the administration of justice and which were systematically excluded, offering insights into the power dynamics of the era.