Legal Definitions - legalis homo

Definition: A legalis homo is a person who has full legal capacity and full legal rights. This means that they have not been deprived of any rights in court by outlawry, excommunication, or infamy. A legalis homo was said to stand rectus in curia ("right in court").

For example, a person who has not been convicted of a crime and has not been excommunicated from their church would be considered a legalis homo. They would be able to serve as a juror and swear an oath.

The term legalis homo was used in medieval times to distinguish between those who had full legal rights and those who did not. It was important to be a legalis homo because it meant that you had the ability to participate fully in legal proceedings and society.