Legal Definitions - ad vitam aut culpam

ad vitam aut culpam

Ad vitam aut culpam is a Latin phrase that means "for life or until misbehavior." It is used to describe a tenure of office.

• A judge may be appointed ad vitam aut culpam, meaning they will hold their position for life or until they are found guilty of misconduct.
• A professor may be granted ad vitam aut culpam tenure, which means they have a job for life as long as they do not engage in any serious misconduct.

These examples illustrate how ad vitam aut culpam is used to describe a tenure of office that lasts either for life or until the person holding the position is found guilty of misconduct. It is often used in legal and academic contexts to describe long-term appointments.