Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: Fama Publica
Definition: Fama publica is a Latin term that means "public repute." It refers to a person's reputation in the community. In the past, a person's fama publica could be used against them in a criminal proceeding. This means that if someone had a bad reputation, it could be used as evidence against them in court. The fama publica was often based on rumors and hearsay, rather than actual evidence. It was distilled twice, meaning that representatives of the vills would make presentments to a jury of twelve freeholders, who would then present the information to the sheriff. The legal forefathers of our grand jurors were not always reporting crimes they had witnessed, but rather passing on rumors they had heard from others.
Related term: Ill Fame
Fama publica is a Latin term that means "public repute". It refers to a person's reputation in the community. In the past, a person's fama publica could be used against them in a criminal proceeding.
For example, in the thirteenth century, when a coroner was holding an inquest over the body of a dead person, the fama publica was twice distilled. The representatives of the vills made presentments to a jury of twelve freeholders, which represented the hundred. Then, such of these presentments as the twelve jurors were willing to 'avow', or make their own, were presented by them to the sheriff.
The legal forefathers of our grand jurors were not in the majority of cases supposed to be reporting crimes that they have witnessed, or even to be the originators of the fama publica. They were handing on and 'avowing' as their own a rumour that has been reported to them by others.
In simple terms, fama publica means what people think about you in your community. If you have a good fama publica, people will trust and respect you. But if you have a bad fama publica, people may not trust you and may even accuse you of wrongdoing.