Legal Definitions - placita

Placita is a Latin term that historically refers to the formal records of court proceedings. These records typically include summaries of cases heard, the pleas made by parties, judgments rendered, and other official actions taken by a court during a session. It essentially encapsulates the official business and declarations of a court.

• Example 1: Historical Legal Research

  Imagine a legal historian conducting research into the development of property law in 16th-century England. To understand how specific land disputes were resolved, they would meticulously examine ancient court documents known as "placita rolls." These rolls are the official parchment records detailing the cases, arguments, and decisions made by the royal courts of the time. The historian would be studying the court's placita, which are the formal, recorded proceedings and judgments of those historical court sessions.

• Example 2: Formal Court Session Summary

  In some very traditional or ceremonial court settings, particularly in historical contexts, a formal declaration or summary might be prepared at the beginning of a court session. For instance, a court clerk might draft a document outlining the types of cases scheduled for the day, the formal opening of the court, and a brief statement of the court's jurisdiction or authority for that session. This formal declaration and summary of the court's business for the session could be referred to as the placita for that day, setting out the official matters to be addressed and recorded.