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MIAMI A
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Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A quick definition of terms:
Terms are books of legal cases that were reported anonymously and regularly during the reign of Edward I to Henry VIII. They were called Year Books because they were grouped under the regnal years of the sovereigns in whose reigns the reported cases were cited. The reports were probably originally prepared by law teachers and students and later by professional reporters or scribes. They were written in Anglo-French, the language of courtly speech, and their authorship is unknown. The earliest reports were used for case-method instruction in law school and contained ideas and suggestions rather than historical authenticity as precedents. The year-books did not end at any fixed date and were identified by the name of the author.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Terms refer to the Year Books, which are books of cases reported anonymously and regularly. They cover the period from the reign of Edward I to the time of Henry VIII. The reports were probably originally prepared by law teachers and students and later by professional reporters or scribes. The title "Year Books" comes from grouping the cases under the regnal years of the sovereigns in whose reigns the reported cases were cited.
For example, the Year Books were written in Anglo-French, the language of courtly speech. Their authorship is unknown, and they are referred to by the generic name "year-books." The reports settled into a more uniform and at times apparently single series. The year-books did not end at any fixed date. What has usually been taken as their end is the result of two concurrent factors: the advent of printing, and the practice of identifying reports by the name of the author.
The Year Books are important because they contain ideas and suggestions that were used to teach law students. They were not used as historical authenticity as precedents.