Legal Definitions - quo jure

Definition: Quo jure (kwoh joor-ee) is a legal term in Latin that means "by what right." It refers to a writ that was used in the past to force someone who claimed a right to use someone else's land to prove their legal right to do so.

For example, if a farmer claimed that he had the right to graze his cattle on his neighbor's land, the neighbor could use a quo jure writ to demand that the farmer prove his legal right to do so. The writ was a way to settle disputes over land ownership and use.

Another example of the use of quo jure might be in a case where two people claimed ownership of the same piece of land. One person might use a quo jure writ to force the other to prove their legal right to the land.

These examples illustrate how quo jure was used in the past to resolve disputes over land ownership and use. It was a way to ensure that people could not simply claim a right to use someone else's land without providing legal proof of their right to do so.