Jurisprudence

What jurisprudence means

Put simply, jurisprudence is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.

Where jurisprudence comes up

The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if jurisprudence appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read jurisprudence in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Judicial notice: a court's acceptance of a fact as true without formal proof because it is not subject to reasonable dispute — it is generally known within the trial court's territorial jurisdiction, or can be accurately and readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned (Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)).
• Judiciary: the branch of government made up of the courts and judges. Article III of the U.S. Constitution places the judicial power of the United States in one Supreme Court and in the lower courts Congress creates. Each state also has its own judiciary.
• Juris: a Latin word meaning of law or of right. It appears in legal phrases such as sui juris (of one's own right, legally able to act for oneself), Juris Doctor (the law degree) and jurisdiction.
• Jurisdiction: a court's power to hear a case and make binding decisions.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.