Legal Definitions - obtulit se

obtulit se

When someone appears in court against an opposing party who did not show up, they are said to have "offered themselves" or "obtulit se" in Latin. This phrase was used in old English practice to record the appearance of one party in court.

1. John was supposed to appear in court for his speeding ticket, but he didn't show up. Mary, the police officer who issued the ticket, appeared in court and said that John was guilty. The court recorded that Mary "obtulit se" because she offered herself to appear in court when John did not.

2. In a divorce case, the husband did not show up to court. The wife appeared in court and the court recorded that she "obtulit se" because she offered herself to appear in court when her husband did not.

These examples illustrate how "obtulit se" was used in old English practice to record the appearance of one party in court when the opposing party did not show up. It was a way to keep track of who appeared in court and who did not.