Legal Definitions - quidam

Quidam is a historical legal term, derived from Latin, that refers to an unspecified individual, particularly one whose name is unknown or deliberately not disclosed. It essentially means "somebody" or "a certain person." This term was notably used in French legal practice to refer to an anonymous party in a legal proceeding or document.

• Example 1: Historical Court Records

  Imagine reviewing an old French court record from the 17th century concerning a property dispute. The document might state, "The testimony of quidam was presented, alleging prior ownership," indicating that an unnamed individual provided crucial evidence, perhaps to protect their identity or because their full name was not deemed essential for the record.

  This example illustrates quidam being used in a direct legal context to refer to an anonymous witness or informant whose specific identity was either unknown or intentionally withheld from the official record.

• Example 2: Legal Commentary or Historical Analysis

  A legal historian analyzing a famous 19th-century French criminal case might write, "It was widely believed that quidam, a disgruntled former employee, had provided the police with the critical tip, though his name never appeared in the official reports."

  Here, quidam refers to an individual whose identity was known informally or by rumor, but who remained officially unnamed or unknown within the formal legal proceedings, highlighting the term's use for an unspecified person in a historical legal narrative.