Legal Definitions - hors

The term hors, originating from French, means "out of" or "outside of." It is used in legal contexts to indicate that something is beyond a particular scope, boundary, or state.

• Example 1: Hors de combat

  In international humanitarian law, a person is considered hors de combat if they are no longer able to participate in hostilities, for instance, due to injury, surrender, or capture. This means they are "outside of" the state of active combat. Under the Geneva Conventions, individuals who are hors de combat are entitled to protection and must not be intentionally attacked.

• Example 2: Hors de propos

  During a legal proceeding, if a lawyer introduces an argument or piece of evidence that is irrelevant to the case at hand, it might be described as hors de propos. This signifies that the information is "outside of" the relevant subject matter or the appropriate scope of the legal discussion, and thus should not be considered by the court.

• Example 3: Hors jurisdiction

  If a court attempts to make a ruling on a matter that falls beyond its legal authority—either geographically or by the type of case it is empowered to hear—its action could be deemed hors jurisdiction. This means the court has acted "outside of" its legitimate judicial power, and its decision might be challenged or overturned.