Legal Definitions - petit

In legal contexts, petit is an adjective derived from French, meaning 'small' or 'minor.' It is used to distinguish a lesser or smaller version of a legal concept from a larger or more significant one, often preceding another legal term.

• Example 1: Petit Jury

  Imagine a criminal trial where twelve citizens are selected to hear evidence and decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent. This group is known as a petit jury.

  This illustrates 'petit' because this jury is the 'small' or 'minor' jury responsible for rendering a verdict in a specific trial, as opposed to a 'grand jury,' which is typically larger and serves a different function, such as deciding whether there is enough evidence to bring charges.

• Example 2: Petit Larceny

  Consider a situation where an individual shoplifts an item valued at $50 from a store. In some jurisdictions, stealing items below a certain monetary threshold might be classified as petit larceny.

  Here, 'petit' signifies that the theft involved a 'small' or 'minor' value of goods, leading to a less severe charge compared to 'grand larceny,' which involves items of higher value and carries more significant penalties. While many modern laws now use terms like 'misdemeanor theft' or 'felony theft' based on value, the historical distinction of 'petit' larceny clearly demonstrates the concept of a lesser offense.