Legal Definitions - jus necessitatis

Definition: Jus necessitatis (pronounced "yus ne-ses-i-tay-tis") is a Latin term that refers to a person's right to do what is necessary without fear of legal punishment. This means that if someone does something that is necessary, even if it would normally be considered illegal, they cannot be punished for it.

Example: Imagine that you are driving your friend to the hospital because they are having a medical emergency. You are speeding and run a red light, which are both illegal actions. However, because you are doing what is necessary to save your friend's life, you cannot be punished for breaking these laws. This is an example of jus necessitatis.

Another example could be if someone breaks into a building to save someone who is trapped inside. Even though breaking and entering is illegal, the person cannot be punished for it because they were doing what was necessary to save someone's life.

These examples illustrate the concept of jus necessitatis because they show that sometimes it is necessary to break the law in order to do what is right or save someone's life. In these situations, the law recognizes that the person was acting out of necessity and cannot be punished for their actions.