Legal Definitions - in rigore juris

In rigore juris is a Latin legal phrase that means "according to strict law." It refers to the application of legal rules and principles precisely as they are written, without deviation, and without considering broader notions of fairness, equity, or extenuating circumstances. When a decision is made in rigore juris, it adheres strictly to the letter of the law, even if the outcome might seem harsh or inflexible.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Contractual Deadline: Imagine a construction contract that specifies a penalty of $1,000 for each day the project is delayed past the agreed-upon completion date. The contractor finishes all work on time, but due to an unexpected courier delay, the final completion certificate is delivered to the client's office 30 minutes after closing on the deadline day. The client, insisting in rigore juris, demands the $1,000 penalty for one day's delay, arguing that the document was not *received* by the exact time stipulated in the contract. This demonstrates a strict application of the contract's terms, disregarding the minimal delay or the fact that the actual work was completed on schedule.

• Procedural Court Rule: A court rule mandates that all legal briefs must be filed with the clerk's office by 5:00 PM on a specific date. A lawyer, rushing to meet the deadline, arrives at the clerk's office at 5:02 PM because their car broke down unexpectedly on the way. The opposing counsel, arguing in rigore juris, moves to have the brief rejected as untimely. If the judge were to rule strictly in rigore juris, they would dismiss the brief based solely on the two-minute delay, without considering the reasonable excuse or the potential impact on the case's merits.

• Zoning Ordinance: A local zoning ordinance specifies that no residential fence can exceed six feet in height. A homeowner builds a new fence that, due to a slight unevenness in the ground, measures six feet and one inch at its highest point. A neighbor, who dislikes the new fence, complains to the city, demanding its modification in rigore juris. The city inspector, applying the ordinance strictly, would require the homeowner to lower the fence by one inch, even though the deviation is minor and has no practical impact on light, views, or neighborhood aesthetics. This is an enforcement based purely on the exact wording of the law.