Legal Maxims Part 1

1. Ignorantia juris non excusat: “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”

It means every individual is presumed to know the law of the land and cannot claim ignorance of law as a defense.

2. Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea: “An act does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty intention of that person.

It means a person will be considered as guilty of an offense if he has the intention to do some illegal act or offense.

3. Nemo debet esse judex in propria causa: “No one should be a judge in their own cause”

It means that if a person has committed some wrong act or illegal act then he can not be judge in his own case.

4. Res ipsa loquitur: “The thing speaks for itself”

It means that incident speaks itself. This maxim is related to negligence in which court presume defendant as negligent and burden of proof is upon that person that he was not negligent.

5. Lex non cogit ad impossibilia: “The law does not require the impossible”

It means that the Law does not consider an impossible act. If two persons agree to do an impossible act then the law does not enforce such agreements.