Reference Library
A searchable library of primary legal authorities, including the Constitution, statutes, regulations, rules, and court decisions, with citations and links to official sources.
U.S. Const. amend. V; Black's Law Dictionary
No one is bound to accuse himself. The foundation of the privilege against self-incrimination: a person cannot be compelled to provide testimony or evidence that would incriminate them.
Black's Law Dictionary
Where there is a right, there is a remedy. A foundational principle that the law provides a means of redress for every legal wrong; no right is meaningful without a corresponding remedy.
Black's Law Dictionary
The welfare of the people is the supreme law. The public good is the highest guiding principle of law; statutes and governmental acts are to be construed to serve the public welfare.
Black's Law Dictionary
Use your own property in such a way that you do not injure another's. The principle that property rights are limited by the duty not to cause unreasonable harm to others; the basis of nuisance law.
Black's Law Dictionary
Let the master answer. The doctrine of vicarious liability holding a superior (such as an employer) responsible for the wrongful acts of a subordinate committed within the scope of their duties.
Black's Law Dictionary
He who acts through another acts himself. The principle that an act done by an authorized agent is treated in law as the act of the principal who authorized it.
Black's Law Dictionary
Equity aids the vigilant, not those who sleep on their rights. The doctrine of laches: a party who unreasonably delays asserting a right may lose the right to equitable relief.
Black's Law Dictionary
The burden of proof lies on the claimant. The party who brings a claim bears the responsibility of proving the facts necessary to establish it; the cornerstone of the burden of proof.
Black's Law Dictionary
It is known by its associates. A word's meaning is derived from the words around it; ambiguous terms are interpreted in light of the company they keep in the statute or document.
Black's Law Dictionary
The law does not concern itself with trifles. Courts will not decide trivial matters or impose liability for negligible harm; the foundation of the de minimis doctrine.
Black's Law Dictionary
From a bare promise no action arises. A promise without consideration (a 'naked pact') is generally not enforceable; the foundation of the consideration requirement in contract law.
Black's Law Dictionary
A false description does not vitiate. An inaccurate description in a legal instrument does not invalidate it when the subject matter can be sufficiently identified from other parts of the document.
Black's Law Dictionary
When the reason for the law ceases, the law itself ceases. A statute or rule ceases to apply when the underlying purpose or justification for it no longer exists.
Black's Law Dictionary
No one can transfer to another more right than he himself possesses. A broader statement of the rule underlying nemo dat quod non habet, governing all transfers of rights and title.
Black's Law Dictionary
Earlier in time, stronger in law. Where competing claims or interests exist, the one established first generally takes priority; the foundation of priority rules in property and liens.
Black's Law Dictionary
Ignorance of fact excuses. Unlike ignorance of the law, a genuine mistake about a fact may excuse conduct or negate the mental state required for liability.
Black's Law Dictionary
A new intervening act. An independent, unforeseeable act that breaks the chain of causation between a defendant's conduct and the harm, relieving the original wrongdoer of liability for the later consequences.
Black's Law Dictionary
Suppression of the truth is equivalent to the suggestion of falsehood. Concealing a material fact, when there is a duty to disclose, constitutes fraud just as much as an affirmative misstatement.
Black's Law Dictionary
False in one thing, false in everything. The principle that a witness who lies about one material fact may be disbelieved as to all of their testimony; the jury may reject the entirety of a witness's account.
Black's Law Dictionary
It is in the public interest that there be an end to litigation. Society has an interest in the finality of judgments so that disputes do not continue indefinitely; supports res judicata and statutes of limitation.
Black's Law Dictionary
The law does not compel the impossible. No one is required to perform what is impossible; performance may be excused when it becomes objectively impossible through no fault of the obligor.
Black's Law Dictionary
Private inconvenience is compensated by the public good. The principle underlying eminent domain and takings: private property may be taken for public use, provided just compensation is paid.
Black's Law Dictionary
Equity follows the law. Equity supplements and does not override the law; equitable relief is granted within the framework of established legal rights rather than in disregard of them.
Black's Law Dictionary
No one should be enriched at another's expense. The principle of unjust enrichment: a person who has been unjustly enriched at another's loss must make restitution of the benefit received.
Black's Law Dictionary
What necessity compels, it defends. The doctrine of necessity: conduct that would otherwise be unlawful is justified when compelled by necessity to prevent a greater harm.
Black's Law Dictionary
One wrong does not justify another. The fact that another person acted wrongfully does not excuse or justify wrongful conduct in response; vigilante retaliation is not a defense.
Black's Law Dictionary
That is certain which can be made certain. An agreement or obligation that is presently indeterminate is treated as valid if it can be rendered certain by reference to extrinsic facts or a formula.
Black's Law Dictionary
Necessity makes lawful what otherwise is not. Conduct compelled by necessity — to preserve life or prevent greater harm — may be excused even though it would ordinarily be unlawful.
Black's Law Dictionary
The truth shall set you free. A maxim reflecting the centrality of truth-seeking in the legal process; the search for truth is the aim of evidence and trial procedure.
Black's Law Dictionary
For whose benefit? The inquiry into who profits from a crime or transaction; motive and benefit are key investigative and evidentiary considerations in determining culpability or intent.
Black's Law Dictionary
The expression of one thing is the exclusion of the other. When a statute lists specific items, courts presume that items not listed were intentionally omitted and therefore excluded.
Black's Law Dictionary
No one should be a judge in their own cause. A core principle against bias and conflicts of interest; a decision-maker with a personal stake in the outcome is disqualified.
Black's Law Dictionary
Hear the other side. Both parties must have a fair opportunity to be heard before a decision affecting their rights is made — a pillar of natural justice.
Black's Law Dictionary
A matter already judged. A final judgment on the merits between the same parties bars relitigation of the same claim or issue.
Black's Law Dictionary
To stand by things decided. Courts generally follow prior decisions (precedent) to promote predictability and stability in the law.
Black's Law Dictionary
Ignorance of the law does not excuse. A person is generally presumed to know the law and cannot avoid liability by claiming ignorance of it.
Black's Law Dictionary
No one gives what they do not have. A seller cannot transfer greater title than they possess; a transferee takes subject to any defect in the transferor's title (subject to statutory exceptions).
U.S. Const. art. I, §§ 9–10
After the fact. Laws that retroactively criminalize an act or increase punishment are prohibited under the U.S. Constitution.
Black's Law Dictionary
On the same subject. Statutes addressing the same subject matter are read together and interpreted consistently with one another.
Black's Law Dictionary
Of the same kind. When general words follow a list of specific items, the general words are limited to things of the same kind as those specifically listed.
Black's Law Dictionary
The reason for the decision. The legal principle on which a case's outcome rests; this is the binding part of a precedent (as opposed to obiter dicta).
Black's Law Dictionary
Things said by the way. Remarks or observations in a judgment not essential to the decision; persuasive but not binding as precedent.
Black's Law Dictionary
Body of the crime. The principle that a crime must be proven to have actually occurred before a person can be convicted of it; it is not the victim's body but the fact of the crime.
U.S. Const. art. I, § 9; 28 U.S.C. § 2241
You shall have the body. A writ requiring the government to produce a detained person and justify the detention; the foundational safeguard against unlawful imprisonment.
U.S. Const. amend. V
No one should be put in jeopardy twice. The double jeopardy principle: a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense after acquittal or conviction.
Black's Law Dictionary
Guilty act. The physical or voluntary act element of a crime; criminal liability generally requires both an actus reus and a mens rea.
Black's Law Dictionary
Guilty mind. The mental state element of a crime (intent, knowledge, recklessness, or negligence); criminal liability generally requires a culpable mental state.
Black's Law Dictionary
The law is harsh, but it is the law. Even an unfavorable law must be applied as written; it reflects the principle that no one is above the law.
Black's Law Dictionary
Let justice be done though the heavens fall. Justice must be administered according to the law regardless of the consequences or inconvenience.
Black's Law Dictionary
A later law repeals an earlier one. Where two statutes conflict, the later-enacted law governs.
Black's Law Dictionary
A specific law overrides a general one. Where a specific statute and a general statute both apply, the specific provision controls.
U.S. Const. amend. V; art. I, § 9
No crime without law. The principle of legality: conduct cannot be punished as a crime unless it was defined as criminal by law before the act occurred.
Black's Law Dictionary
Agreements must be kept. The foundational principle of contract law that valid agreements are binding and must be performed in good faith.
Black's Law Dictionary
Things thus standing. The doctrine that a contract may be discharged or modified when circumstances have fundamentally changed from those assumed at formation (clausula rebus sic stantibus).
Black's Law Dictionary
Let the buyer beware. The principle that the buyer bears responsibility to inspect and judge goods before purchase; largely narrowed by modern consumer-protection and warranty laws.
Black's Law Dictionary
In good faith. Honest, sincere belief or intent without intent to deceive; a standard of conduct in contracts, property, and employment law.
Black's Law Dictionary
In bad faith. Dishonest intent, fraud, or failure to deal honestly; the opposite of bona fide.
Black's Law Dictionary
From a dishonorable cause, no action arises. Courts will not enforce a contract founded on an illegal or immoral purpose; the illegality doctrine.
Black's Law Dictionary
The thing speaks for itself. A doctrine allowing negligence to be inferred when the harm would not ordinarily occur without negligence and the instrumentality was in the defendant's control.
Black's Law Dictionary
To a willing person, no injury is done. The assumption-of-risk doctrine: a person who voluntarily and knowingly accepts a risk cannot recover for resulting injury.
Black's Law Dictionary
Harm without legal wrong. Damage suffered without an actionable legal wrong does not give rise to liability; not all harm is compensable.
Black's Law Dictionary
Of its own kind. Describing something unique, in a class by itself, not fitting neatly into an established category.
Black's Law Dictionary
The way things were before. Restoration of the prior state of affairs; a common goal of rescission and restitution.
Black's Law Dictionary
In the place of a parent. The doctrine allowing a person (such as a school) to assume parental rights and responsibilities toward a child.
Black's Law Dictionary
Under judicial consideration. A matter is sub judice when a case is pending before a court; publication or comment that could prejudice the proceedings may be restricted.
U.S. Const.
The supreme law of the United States, establishing the structure of government and protecting individual rights through the Bill of Rights and later amendments.
U.S. Const. amend. I
Protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
U.S. Const. amend. IV
Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants upon probable cause.
U.S. Const. amend. V
Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process; requires grand jury indictment for serious federal crimes.
U.S. Const. amend. VI
Guarantees rights in criminal prosecutions including speedy public trial, impartial jury, confrontation of witnesses, and assistance of counsel.
U.S. Const. amend. VIII
Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
U.S. Const. amend. XIV
Guarantees due process and equal protection and incorporates most Bill of Rights protections against the states.
5 U.S.C. § 552
Gives any person the right to request access to federal agency records, subject to enumerated exemptions.
5 U.S.C. §§ 551–559, 701–706
Governs federal agency rulemaking and adjudication and provides for judicial review of agency action.
15 U.S.C. § 45
Prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.
38 U.S.C.
Governs veterans' benefits including disability compensation, healthcare, and education benefits.
38 C.F.R.
Regulations implementing veterans' benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
5 C.F.R.
Regulations governing federal employment, including veterans' preference in hiring.
Fed. R. Civ. P.
Governs procedure in civil cases in U.S. district courts.
Fed. R. Crim. P.
Governs procedure in federal criminal cases.
Fed. R. Evid.
Governs the admissibility of evidence in federal court proceedings.
347 U.S. 483 (1954)
Held that racial segregation in public schools violates the Equal Protection Clause.
5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803)
Established the principle of judicial review of legislative and executive acts.
372 U.S. 335 (1963)
Held that states must provide counsel to indigent defendants in felony cases.
384 U.S. 436 (1966)
Required warnings before custodial interrogation to protect Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights.
268 U.S. 652 (1925)
Recognized that freedoms of speech and press are protected from state impairment by the Fourteenth Amendment.
Various state constitutions
Each state has its own constitution, which may provide rights broader than the U.S. Constitution. Consult your state's current constitution.
Various state statutes
Each state has a public-records or open-records law governing access to state and local government records.
Various state administrative codes
Each state publishes its administrative regulations; many are available through state government websites or the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Various municipal codes
Counties and municipalities enact ordinances governing local matters; these are published in municipal codes, often available on city websites or Municode.