Legal Definitions - nisi prius court

Definition: A nisi prius court is a civil trial court where issues are tried before a jury. The term comes from Latin and means "unless before then." However, it is now obsolete in the United States except in New York and Oklahoma. It is also known as a nisi prius court.

Example: In a nisi prius court, a jury would hear evidence and decide the outcome of a civil case. For example, if someone sues another person for breach of contract, the case would be heard in a nisi prius court.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a nisi prius court works. It is a court where a jury hears evidence and decides the outcome of a civil case. In this case, the jury would decide whether the defendant breached the contract and if the plaintiff is entitled to damages.