Legal Definitions - et inde petit judicium

Et inde petit judicium is an archaic Latin phrase that translates to "and thereupon he prays judgment." Historically, this was a formal clause found at the conclusion of a legal document, known as a pleading, submitted to a court. Its purpose was to explicitly state that the party filing the document, having presented their arguments and facts, was now formally requesting the court to issue a judgment in their favor.

It served as a clear and direct declaration of the desired outcome from the judicial process, based on the information provided in the preceding text. While no longer in use in modern legal practice, it reflects a historical formality in legal submissions.

• Example 1: A Plaintiff's Claim

  Imagine a plaintiff in a 17th-century English court, filing a lawsuit to recover damages for a broken agreement. After meticulously detailing the terms of the contract, how the defendant allegedly violated those terms, and the financial losses suffered as a result, their formal written complaint (the pleading) would conclude with the phrase "et inde petit judicium." This signified their direct request to the court to rule that the defendant was liable and to award them the compensation they sought.

• Example 2: A Defendant's Defense

  Consider a defendant in a historical property dispute who has been accused of unlawfully occupying land. After presenting their counter-arguments, which might include evidence of their own rightful ownership, a valid lease, or a prescriptive right to the land, their formal written response to the court would end with "et inde petit judicium." By doing so, they were formally asking the court to find in their favor, perhaps by dismissing the plaintiff's claim or affirming their legitimate right to the property.