Legal Definitions - sans jour

The term sans jour is a historical legal phrase that literally means "without day." In a legal or governmental context, it refers to the indefinite adjournment of a proceeding, meeting, or session without setting a specific date for it to reconvene. When something is adjourned "sans jour," it means there is no scheduled date for its resumption, effectively ending it for the foreseeable future unless a new decision is made to restart it.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Legislative Committee

  Imagine a special legislative committee was formed to investigate the impact of a new environmental policy. After several months of hearings and deliberations, the committee submits its final report to the full legislature. The committee chair then announces, "This committee is now adjourned sans jour."

  Explanation: This means the committee has concluded its work and will not meet again unless a new resolution or directive is issued to reconvene it. There is no future meeting date set, indicating an indefinite end to its current mandate.

• Example 2: Court Proceedings

  A complex civil lawsuit involving multiple parties and extensive evidence has been ongoing for years. After a series of motions and preliminary hearings, the judge determines that a critical piece of evidence is unobtainable, making it impossible to proceed fairly at this time. The judge then issues an order stating, "The proceedings in this case are hereby adjourned sans jour."

  Explanation: By adjourning "sans jour," the judge has effectively paused or ended the case indefinitely without setting a new trial date. The case remains open but dormant, and it will not move forward until a significant new development or a specific order from the court reactivates it.

• Example 3: International Conference

  Representatives from several nations gathered for an international conference to negotiate a new treaty on cybersecurity. After weeks of intense discussions, the delegates reach an impasse on a few key provisions and cannot agree on a final text. The host nation's representative declares, "Given the current disagreements, this conference is adjourned sans jour."

  Explanation: This statement signifies that the conference has ended without a plan for future meetings. There is no date set for reconvening the negotiations, indicating that the treaty discussions are indefinitely suspended until circumstances change or a new initiative is launched.