Legal Definitions - calumniae jusjurandum

Definition: Calumniae jusjurandum is a Latin term used in Roman law. It refers to an oath given by a litigant in court, in which they swear that they are not suing or defending vexatiously. In other words, they are taking an oath that they are not making false accusations or bringing a case without any merit.

Example: For instance, if a person is suing someone for damages caused by a car accident, they may be required to take the calumniae jusjurandum oath. By taking this oath, they are swearing that they have a legitimate claim and are not just trying to harass or harm the other party.

Another example could be a defendant in a criminal case taking the calumniae jusjurandum oath. By doing so, they are swearing that they are not making false statements or trying to mislead the court in any way.

These examples illustrate how the calumniae jusjurandum oath is used to ensure that the legal process is fair and just. It helps to prevent people from bringing frivolous or malicious cases to court and wasting the court's time and resources.