Legal Definitions - ponit se super patriam

Ponit se super patriam is a historical legal phrase that literally translates from Latin as "he puts himself upon the country." In historical criminal proceedings, this phrase represented a defendant's formal plea of "not guilty." By entering this plea, the defendant was essentially stating their innocence and submitting their case to the judgment of a jury, which at the time was considered to represent "the country" or the community.

• Example 1: Accusation of Theft
  Imagine a historical scenario where a villager named Arthur is accused of stealing a pig from his neighbor's sty. When brought before the local magistrate, Arthur vehemently denies the accusation, claiming he was elsewhere at the time of the alleged theft. By formally entering a plea of "not guilty" and demanding a trial by his peers, Arthur would be said to ponit se super patriam.

  This example illustrates the term because Arthur, by pleading not guilty, is placing his fate and the determination of his innocence or guilt into the hands of a jury drawn from his community, thereby "putting himself upon the country" for judgment.

• Example 2: Charge of Assault
  Consider a situation where a blacksmith, Thomas, is accused of assaulting a merchant during a heated argument in the marketplace, causing the merchant a broken arm. Thomas admits to the argument but insists he acted in self-defense and did not intend to cause serious harm. When formally charged, he enters a plea of "not guilty" to the charge of malicious assault.

  Here, Thomas's plea of not guilty signifies his decision to ponit se super patriam. He is asking a jury to weigh the evidence, consider his claim of self-defense, and ultimately decide whether he is criminally responsible for the assault, rather than simply accepting the accusation.

• Example 3: Allegation of Arson
  Suppose a farmer, Eleanor, is suspected of setting fire to a rival's barn. She maintains her innocence, stating she was at home with her family on the night of the fire and had no motive to commit such an act. When presented with the charges, she formally pleads "not guilty" and requests a full trial.

  Eleanor's plea of not guilty in this serious criminal matter demonstrates ponit se super patriam. She is rejecting the accusation and entrusting her defense and the ultimate verdict to a jury, relying on their collective judgment to ascertain the truth of the matter.