forum non conveniens

Definition

A doctrine allowing courts to dismiss cases that would be better heard elsewhere, essentially the legal version of 'not it!' Latin for 'inconvenient forum.'

Example Usage

The court granted the motion for forum non conveniens, shipping the case to a more appropriate jurisdiction 3,000 miles away.

Origin

Latin 'forum non conveniens,' meaning 'inconvenient forum'

Fun Fact

Forum non conveniens is a favorite tool for defending cases filed by foreign plaintiffs seeking generous American juries.

Source: Civil procedure and conflict of laws doctrine

Related Terms

Advanced

Voir Dire

The jury selection process where lawyers ask potential jurors deeply personal questions to determine who is least likely to think their client is guilty. It is essentially a job interview where the qualification is having no opinions about anything.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Precedent

A previous court decision that future judges use to make their decisions, because apparently the legal system works like a game of "well, someone did it this way before." It is basically legal copy-paste.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

appellant

The party who lost in a lower court and refuses to accept defeat, instead hauling their grievances up to a higher court for a second opinion. Armed with briefs and appeals, the appellant argues that the trial judge got it wrong, made legal errors, or was possibly asleep during critical testimony. They're essentially asking for a do-over, though appeals courts are notoriously stingy about granting them.

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

limitation

A legal restriction or deadline that prevents you from doing something forever, whether it's suing someone decades after the fact or relying on faulty evidence. In law, it's most famous as the statute of limitations—the expiration date on your right to seek justice, because apparently grievances go stale. Also refers to any inherent weakness or restriction, like your patience for legalese having severe limitations.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

Recusal

When a judge removes themselves from a case because they have a conflict of interest, like the defendant is their cousin or the plaintiff once cut them off in traffic. The legal version of saying "I should probably sit this one out."

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

indemnification

A contractual obligation to compensate someone for harm or loss, essentially agreeing to take the financial hit if something goes wrong. It's the corporate version of "I've got your back," except written by lawyers and far less reassuring.

⚖️ Legal

Translate This Term

See “forum non conveniens” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Advanced

Chuff Monkey!

A delightfully British insult that sounds harsh but is actually meant affectionately, like calling your mate an idiot af...