Legal Definitions - infra

The term infra is used in legal writing to mean "below" or "further down in this document." It serves as a cross-reference, directing the reader to a section, footnote, or part of the same legal text that appears later than the current point.

Legal professionals use infra to make their documents more organized and easier to navigate, especially when dealing with lengthy court opinions, statutes, or legal briefs. Instead of repeating information or quoting large sections, they can simply refer the reader to where the full discussion or details will be found later in the text.

Here are some examples of how infra might be used:

• Example 1: In a Court Opinion

  A judge writing a court's decision might state: "The detailed analysis of the precedent set by Smith v. Jones, which is central to our ruling on contractual intent, is presented infra in Section III."

  Explanation: This means that the reader should continue reading the document, and they will find the comprehensive discussion about the Smith v. Jones case in Section III, which appears later in the judge's opinion.

• Example 2: In a Legal Brief

  An attorney submitting a legal brief to a court might write: "For a complete recitation of the factual background leading to the plaintiff's claim of negligence, please refer to the 'Statement of Facts' section, infra."

  Explanation: Here, the attorney is telling the court that the full story of the events relevant to the case can be found in a subsequent section of the same brief, specifically under the heading "Statement of Facts."

• Example 3: In a Legal Commentary or Treatise

  A legal scholar discussing a complex statute might note: "While the general principles of intellectual property protection are outlined in Chapter 2, specific exceptions for fair use are detailed infra in Chapter 5."

  Explanation: This indicates that the reader will find the specific rules and conditions regarding "fair use" exceptions in Chapter 5, which is located further along in the same legal commentary or book.