Legal Definitions - Nunc pro tunc

Definition: Nunc pro tunc is a Latin term that means "now for then". It is used in legal contexts to describe a court action that is taken retroactively to correct an earlier ruling.

Example: If a court mistakenly enters a judgment against a defendant, the defendant may ask the court to correct the error nunc pro tunc. This means that the court will issue a new judgment that is effective as of the date of the original judgment, rather than the date of the correction.

Explanation: The example illustrates how nunc pro tunc is used to correct an earlier ruling. In this case, the court's mistake in entering the judgment against the defendant is corrected retroactively, so that the defendant is not unfairly penalized. The new judgment is effective as of the original date, which means that any actions taken by the defendant after that date will be considered in light of the corrected ruling.