Legal Definitions - et hoc petit quod inquiratur per patriam

Definition: This is a Latin phrase that means "and this he prays may be inquired of by the country." It is used at the end of a plaintiff's pleading to ask for a decision to be made by a group of people from the community.

• After presenting his case, the lawyer said, "et hoc petit quod inquiratur per patriam" to request a decision from the jury.
• In a criminal trial, the judge may ask the defendant if they want to plead guilty or "et hoc petit quod inquiratur per patriam" to have a trial by jury.

These examples show how the phrase is used to ask for a decision to be made by a group of people from the community, such as a jury. It is often used in legal settings to ensure a fair and impartial decision is made.