Legal Definitions - ex incontinenti

Ex incontinenti is a historical Latin legal term that means without delay or in a summary manner. It refers to actions or decisions taken immediately, often in an expedited or simplified way, without the usual formal procedures or postponements.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a medieval court where a defendant openly confesses to a minor offense. A judge, acting ex incontinenti, might issue a sentence immediately, without the need for a lengthy trial, further evidence, or a jury deliberation. This demonstrates the "without delay" and "in a summary manner" aspects, as the process was expedited due to the clear circumstances.

• Consider a historical scenario where a local official discovers a public health hazard, such as a contaminated well posing an immediate threat to the community. To prevent widespread illness, the official might order the well to be sealed ex incontinenti. This means they would take swift, direct action to mitigate the danger without waiting for a protracted bureaucratic approval process or formal hearings, prioritizing immediate safety.

• In the context of a historical legal dispute between two parties over a clear contractual breach, if one party immediately presented irrefutable evidence, a magistrate might have ruled ex incontinenti in favor of the aggrieved party. This signifies a prompt decision made directly upon the presentation of undeniable facts, bypassing any unnecessary procedural delays that might typically accompany a more complex case.