Legal Definitions - justitium

Justitium refers to a temporary suspension or interruption of the normal functioning of the courts and the administration of justice. During a justitium, legal proceedings, trials, and other judicial activities are paused for a specific period, often due to extraordinary circumstances or planned recesses.

• Example 1: Natural Disaster
  Following a devastating hurricane that caused widespread damage to infrastructure and public buildings, including courthouses, the state's chief justice declared a temporary closure of all courts in the affected region for two weeks. This meant no new cases could be filed, no hearings would take place, and all ongoing trials were postponed until the courts could safely reopen and resume operations.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates a justitium because the administration of justice was temporarily halted due to an unforeseen and severe event, preventing the courts from functioning normally.

• Example 2: Public Health Emergency
  During a severe pandemic, the government mandated a nationwide lockdown, requiring the closure of all non-essential public services, including courthouses, for a month to curb the spread of the virus. While emergency filings for urgent matters like restraining orders might still be handled remotely, the vast majority of civil and criminal proceedings were put on hold.

  Explanation: The widespread closure of courts and the resulting pause in most judicial activities due to a public health crisis represents a justitium, as the regular flow of justice was suspended for public safety.

• Example 3: Planned Judicial Recess
  Every year, the Supreme Court of a certain country observes a scheduled summer recess from July through September. During this period, the justices do not hear oral arguments, and the court generally does not issue opinions, although some administrative work and case preparation continue. Most lower courts also have similar, though often shorter, planned breaks.

  Explanation: This pre-planned, regular period where the court intentionally pauses its primary judicial functions, such as hearing cases and issuing rulings, is a form of justitium, representing a deliberate intermission in the administration of justice.