Legal Definitions - de vicineto

de vicineto is a Latin legal term that translates to "from the neighborhood" or "from the vicinity." Historically, this term referred to the practice of selecting jurors from the local area where a crime or legal dispute occurred. The underlying principle was that individuals from the immediate community would be most familiar with the local customs, people, or circumstances relevant to the case, or at least represent the community directly affected by the legal matter.

• Example 1: Jury Selection for a Local Incident

  Imagine a small rural county where a significant environmental violation, such as illegal dumping, has occurred, impacting a specific river and the surrounding farms. When the case goes to trial, the court might historically have sought to draw the jury poolde vicineto, meaning potential jurors would be selected primarily from the residents living in the immediate vicinity of the affected river and farms.

  Explanation: This illustrates de vicineto because the jurors are chosen directly from the "neighborhood" or "vicinity" most directly impacted by the alleged environmental crime, ensuring that the jury reflects the local community's perspective and potential familiarity with the local environment.

• Example 2: Historical Land Dispute Resolution

  In earlier legal systems, if there was a complex boundary dispute between two adjacent landowners, the jury empaneled to resolve the conflict would often be chosen de vicineto. These jurors would be local residents who were likely familiar with the specific parcels of land, the historical usage patterns, and the local customs regarding property lines in that particular area.

  Explanation: Here, de vicineto emphasizes the selection of jurors from the immediate locality of the disputed property, leveraging their potential firsthand knowledge or community understanding to make a more informed decision about the land boundaries.

• Example 3: Representing a Specific Community Interest

  Consider a hypothetical situation where a new local ordinance is challenged in court, and the ordinance specifically affects only a particular district or borough within a larger city. While less common today due to modern jury selection practices, a historical application of de vicineto might have involved drawing jurors exclusively from the residents of that specific district or borough to ensure the jury understood the unique local context and impact of the ordinance.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates de vicineto by showing how jurors would be chosen from the precise "neighborhood" or "vicinity" that is directly affected by the legal issue, ensuring the jury reflects the local community's specific interests and perspectives on that particular matter.