Translating Legal Latin into Spanish

In an earlier post, we saw that the list of Latin terms and phrases frequently used in the common law system differs from the list frequently used in the civil law system, and vice versa. Today we will translate some of the most common Latin terms and phrases found in English-language documents into Spanish:

• de minimis = insignificante

• et seq. = y siguientes

• ex parte = sin traslado a la contraparte, voluntario, no contencioso

• judgment non obstante veredicto = sentencia judicial contraria al veredicto del jurado

• malum in se = ilícito por su propia naturaleza; intrínsicamente ilícito

• mens rea = dolo penal

• pro se = sin representación letrada

• sua sponte = de oficio

• sentencia ad testificandum = citación a un testigo a los meros fines de prestar testimonio

• subpoena duces tecum = citación a un testigo con la obligación adjunta de presentar documentos