Legal Definitions - sub colore juris

Sub colore juris is a Latin term that means "under color of right" or "under an appearance of right."

This term is often used to describe situations where someone is acting in a way that appears to be legal or justified, but is actually not. In other words, they are using the appearance of having a right to do something to justify their actions, even if they don't actually have that right.

• A landlord who enters a tenant's apartment without notice or permission, claiming that they have a right to do so because of a clause in the lease agreement, is acting sub colore juris.
• A police officer who uses excessive force during an arrest, claiming that they were acting in self-defense, may be acting sub colore juris if their actions were not actually justified.

These examples illustrate how someone can use the appearance of having a right to do something to justify their actions, even if they are actually in the wrong. In both cases, the person is claiming to have a legal right to do something, but their actions are not actually legal or justified.