Legal Definitions - sub colore officii

SUB COLORE OFFICII

Sub colore officii is a Latin term used in law. It means "under color of office."

• A police officer who uses excessive force against a suspect under the guise of performing their duties is acting sub colore officii.
• A government official who uses their position to gain personal benefits is also acting sub colore officii.

These examples illustrate how someone can abuse their position of authority and use it as a cover for their wrongful actions. Sub colore officii is often used to describe situations where someone is using their official position to justify their misconduct.