Legal Definitions - horae juridicae

Horae juridicae is a historical Latin term that refers to the specific periods or designated hours during which judges were actively present in court and conducting official legal business. It describes the time when judicial proceedings, such as hearing cases, delivering judgments, and managing court affairs, were formally in session.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a historical account from 16th-century England detailing the daily routine of a local magistrate. The account might state that the judge typically held court from "the third hour after sunrise until noon," during which time he would hear petitions, preside over minor disputes, and issue decrees. This specific morning block represents the horae juridicae for that court, as it was the designated period for judicial activity.

• A legal historian studying the judicial system of a medieval European city might discover old statutes or customs that dictated when courts could convene. For instance, a decree might specify that "no court shall sit on market days, nor after the bells ring for vespers, save in cases of grave emergency." The times permitted by these rules, typically certain hours on specific days, would constitute the horae juridicae, defining the legal window for judicial proceedings.

• Consider a historical novel set in ancient Rome, where a character is anxiously awaiting their trial. The narrative might mention that the praetor (a Roman magistrate) would only hear cases during certain established hours of the day, often starting shortly after dawn and concluding before the heat of midday became too intense. These fixed, customary hours when the praetor was available to administer justice are an example of horae juridicae, illustrating the specific, limited times when legal business was conducted.