Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: JUS GLADII
Definition: Jus gladii means the right of the sword in Latin. It refers to the power or right to give the death penalty, especially for provincial governors. This term also has a similar meaning under English law. It is also known as potestas gladii. The king has the power to execute the law, and the prosecution of offenses is always at the suit and in the name of the king.
Definition: Jus gladii (pronounced "jus glad-ee-I") is a Latin term that means "right of the sword." In Roman law, it refers to the power of provincial governors to execute the law, especially the power to impose the death penalty. This term also has a similar meaning in English law.
Example: "And the prosecution of these offences is always at the suit and in the name of the king, in whom, by the texture of our constitution, the jus gladii, or executory power of the law, entirely resides." This quote from William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England illustrates how the term jus gladii was used in English law to refer to the power of the king to enforce the law and impose punishments, including the death penalty.
Explanation: The example shows how the term jus gladii was used in English law to describe the power of the king to enforce the law and impose punishments. This power was seen as essential to maintaining order and ensuring that justice was served. The term also has a historical significance, as it reflects the importance of the sword in ancient Rome as a symbol of power and authority.