Legal Definitions - coram nobis

Term: CORAM NOBIS
Definition: Coram nobis is a legal term that means "before us" in Latin. It is a legal procedure that allows a court to correct a previous judgment that was made in error. This can happen if new evidence is discovered or if there was a mistake made during the original trial that affected the outcome. Coram nobis is used to correct errors that cannot be corrected through other legal procedures, such as an appeal.
Example: A man was convicted of a crime and sentenced to 10 years in prison. After the trial, it was discovered that the prosecution had withheld important evidence that could have changed the outcome of the trial. The man's lawyer filed a coram nobis petition to have the conviction overturned and a new trial ordered.
Explanation: In this example, the coram nobis petition was filed because new evidence was discovered that could have changed the outcome of the trial. The court used the coram nobis procedure to correct the error that was made during the original trial. This allowed the man to have a new trial and a chance to prove his innocence.