Legal Definitions - etiam causa non cognita

ETIAM CAUSA NON COGNITA

Etiam causa non cognita is a Latin term that means "even where the cause is not known" or "absent an investigation." It refers to situations where a decision or decree is made without a full factual inquiry or trial.

• A judge may issue a temporary restraining orderbased on a plaintiff's allegations, etiam causa non cognita, without a full hearing or investigation.
• A company may terminate an employee for alleged misconduct, etiam causa non cognita, without conducting a thorough investigation.

These examples illustrate how etiam causa non cognita can be used in legal or administrative contexts to refer to decisions made without a full investigation or trial. In some cases, this may be necessary due to time constraints or other factors, but it can also lead to unfair or unjust outcomes if important facts are not considered.