Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
in causa

in causa

9.9
To refer to a specific legal case or matter
  • idiom
  • /ɪn ˈkɔːzə/
  • Formal
: en causa
  • Legal scholars often discuss the principles established in causa Marbury v. Madison.

Examples

  • The lawyer referenced arguments presented in causa Miller v. California.

  • We will discuss the evidence in causa during the next hearing.

  • The judge cited the decision made in causa Brown v. Board of Education.

  • The judge ruled in causa of the defendant.

  • The judge cited the decision made in causa Brown v. Board of Education.

  • Legal scholars often discuss the principles established in causa Marbury v. Madison.

  • The lawyer referenced arguments presented in causa Miller v. California.

Synonyms

in causae
vsin causa
  • Jargon
9.9

To refer to a specific court case in legal writing

is identical in meaning but appears as a different written form

Surface Forms

in causa main

Morphology

in + causa

The preposition 'in' is transparent, but 'causa' is a Latin noun not part of everyday English; even if a learner knew 'causa' as meaning 'case' or 'cause', the phrase is a technical Latin legal formula rather than a common English compositional phrase. Comprehension therefore depends on knowledge of Latin/legal register, making the relation partially clear but not fully predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

In causa is a Latin phrase made of in and causa and literally means 'in the case' or 'in the matter of'. Judges used in causa when they named a specific case, so today in causa still means 'in the case of' or 'in the matter of'.