Legal Definitions - in campo

The term in campo is a historical Latin phrase that translates to "in the field" or "before the court." It refers to legal proceedings or actions that occurred directly on the ground, at the actual location of an event, or immediately in the physical presence of a judge or tribunal, rather than in a dedicated courthouse or through a more formalized, separate process.

Here are some examples illustrating the historical application of in campo:

• Imagine a medieval lord resolving a dispute between two serfs over land boundaries. Instead of a formal court building, the lord might have gathered the parties and witnesses in campo – directly on the contested land itself – to inspect the markers and hear testimony on the spot. This approach allowed for immediate observation of the evidence and a swift, on-site judgment, embodying the "in the field" aspect of the term.

• During periods of military conflict, a commander might have convened a summary court-martial for a soldier accused of insubordination. This tribunal would often take place in campo, meaning at the military encampment or even near the battlefield, with the proceedings occurring directly before the commanding officers acting as judges. This illustrates the "before the court" meaning in a direct, immediate, and often improvised setting, rather than a permanent judicial facility.

• In early English legal history, traveling judges known as justices in eyre would journey across the country to hear cases. When these judges arrived in a town, they would often set up their court in campo – perhaps in the town square, a local hall, or even an open field – to administer justice directly to the local populace. This practice highlights both aspects of the term: the proceedings took place "in the field" (meaning, not in a fixed courthouse but wherever the judge happened to be) and "before the court" (the judge and his retinue were present to hear cases immediately).