Simple English definitions for legal terms
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John-a-Nokes: A made-up name used in old legal cases when the real name of a person was not known. It was often used for the first person involved in the case. The name comes from "John who lives by the oak tree." It can be abbreviated as J.N. and is sometimes spelled as John-a-Noakes.
Definition: John-a-Nokes is a made-up name used to refer to an unknown person involved in a legal case, usually the first party. The name comes from the phrase "John who dwells at the oak." It is sometimes abbreviated as J.N. and can also be spelled as John-a-Noakes.
Example: In the court documents, the plaintiff is referred to as John-a-Nokes because their real name is not disclosed.
Explanation: When a person's identity is not known or needs to be kept confidential in a legal case, they may be referred to as John-a-Nokes. This allows the court to proceed with the case without revealing the person's real name. The name is not used in modern legal proceedings, but it is still sometimes found in historical documents.