Legal Definitions - media nox

media nox

In historical legal contexts, media nox refers to midnight. It was used to specify a precise moment in time, often for deadlines, commencement of events, or the end of a day for legal purposes.

• Example 1: Contractual Deadline

  Imagine an old deed from the 17th century stating, "The transfer of title for the estate known as Blackwood Manor shall be completed and all necessary documents signed by media nox on the twenty-fourth day of June."

  This means that the legal transfer of ownership and the signing of all related paperwork had to be finalized no later than midnight on June 24th. Any action taken after that specific moment would be considered late or outside the stipulated timeframe.

• Example 2: Legislative Proclamation

  A historical town charter might have included a clause declaring, "All public gatherings and assemblies within the town square are strictly prohibited after media nox, under penalty of fine."

  Here, media nox establishes a curfew. It legally mandated that any public assembly in the town square must disperse and cease by midnight, with consequences for those who failed to comply.

• Example 3: Legal Filing Cutoff

  Consider a historical court rule that dictated, "Any formal objection to the proposed settlement must be lodged with the court clerk prior to media nox on the final day of the current judicial term."

  This use of media nox set a strict deadline for submitting legal objections. It meant that the court would not accept any objections filed after midnight on the last day of that particular court session.