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Say It In Latin, Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat
September 8, 2017
— excuse, ignorance. law, Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat, police
ignorance pyramid
Ignorance
The concept that ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for breaking it, Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat, has been in use for centuries. This maxim is enforced everywhere. It means that everyone in a specific jurisdiction has a responsibility to be aware of all the laws that govern that place. If you live in a city this means all the city ordinances, the county ordinances, as well as the state and federal laws that apply to everyone. Obviously there are some obscure laws that are not known by everyone, but if you plan to do something that might violate the law, do seek some professional help to determine the legality of your plans. Today almost everything can be found on the internet by searching, so it is worth the time to check to know for sure that you are not in violation of the law before you proceed.
Where I live we have crime problems partly because the citizens know little of their legal rights , and also because the city officials, not just the police, reflect an amazing ignorance of the law coupled with strong willful blindness to all crime. Reporting the same crimes for years while being told there are no laws that can be used to stop the crimes where you live is a frustrating experience. You may live in an area like this where your right to protection under the law is subject to the ignorance of local law enforcement agencies. This is a dangerous and creepy situation. I plan to continue to report the crimes we continue to experience as a direct result of government ignorance of the law. It is an ironic position, but I firmly believe that if the government commits crimes it should at least become aware of the laws they have broken. What applies to the rest of us applies to those who spend our tax dollars.
Without this basic concept anyone can claim they have no knowledge of the law any time they commit a felony or violate civil law. Unless we apply this concept equally to government and the governed, we make a complete mockery of the law.
comments
Very powerful post Pam! It’s very true.. though I find that places like Next Door and Facebook groups make a huge difference in people learning about the laws and their rights within/under those laws. It’s amazing how fast someone can — and will- learn if it affects them!
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