# Sub judice

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{{More citations needed|date=March 2011}}
{{Short description|Matter that is under legal trial, or judgement}}
{{Italic title}}
{{wiktionary}}
In [law](/source/law), '''''sub judice''''', [Latin](/source/Latin) for "under a judge", means that a particular case or matter is under [trial](/source/trial_(law)) or being considered by a [judge](/source/judge) or [court](/source/court).  The term may be used [synonym](/source/synonym)ously with "the present case" or "the case at bar" by some [lawyer](/source/lawyer)s.

In [England and Wales](/source/England_and_Wales),  [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1112/124133-rte/|title=RTÉ to donate €40k after sub judice breach|date=November 12, 2009|website=rte.ie}}</ref> [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand),<ref>{{cite journal 
|url= https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-NZ/48HansD_20071016/5d8d5fe8a2a6df2eac421e687233437b847f02c6
|title= Speaker's Rulings — Sub Judice Rule Operation 
|first= Margaret 
|last= Wilson 
|journal=  Hansard (Debates)
|publisher= New Zealand Parliament
|volume=642
|page=12339 
|date= 16 October 2007
|access-date= 14 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/fact-sheets/pbrief4/
|title= Brief: Parliamentary privilege 
|author= Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives 
|work= How Parliament works Fact sheets
|publisher= New Zealand Parliament
|date= 30 June 2010 
|access-date=14 December 2018
|quote= Avoiding comment on matters before the courts is an important principle of our constitutional system and it is one respected by Parliament }}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/chapter-16-debate/
|title=  Sub judice rule
|author= Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives
|work= Chapter 16 Debate in 'Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand'
|date= 10 August 2017
|publisher= New Zealand Parliament
|access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref> [Australia](/source/Australia), [South Africa](/source/South_Africa), [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh), [India](/source/India), [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan), [Canada](/source/Canada),<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Walsh
  | first = R.R.
  | title = Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel
  | work = Letter to Charlie Angus, MP
  | publisher = House of Commons, Canada
  | date = November 9, 2011
  | url = https://www.scribd.com/doc/72592999/Law-Clerk-ETHI-CBC-Docs-111109
  | access-date = November 18, 2011}}</ref> [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka), and [Israel](/source/Israel) it is generally considered inappropriate to comment publicly on cases ''sub judice'', which can be an offence in itself, leading to [contempt of court](/source/contempt_of_court) proceedings.  This is particularly true in [criminal](/source/criminal_justice) cases, where publicly discussing cases ''sub judice'' may constitute interference with [due process](/source/due_process).

Prior to 1981, the term was correctly used in [English law](/source/English_law) to describe material which would prejudice court proceedings by publication. ''Sub judice'' is now irrelevant to journalists because of the introduction of the [Contempt of Court Act 1981](/source/Contempt_of_Court_Act_1981). Under Section 2 of the Act, a substantial risk of serious prejudice can only be created by a media report when proceedings are active. Proceedings become active when there is an arrest, oral charge, issue of a warrant, or a summons.

In the [United States](/source/United_States), there are [First Amendment](/source/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution) concerns about stifling the right of free speech which prevent such tight restrictions on comments ''sub judice''.  However, [State Rules of Professional Conduct](/source/American_Bar_Association_Model_Rules_of_Professional_Conduct) governing attorneys often place restrictions on the out-of-court statements an attorney may make regarding an ongoing case.  Furthermore, there are still protections for criminal defendants, and those convicted in an atmosphere of a [media circus](/source/media_circus) have had their convictions overturned for a fairer trial. One example is the [murder conviction of Sam Sheppard](/source/Sheppard_v._Maxwell).

==See also==
* [Asian News International vs. Wikimedia Foundation](/source/Asian_News_International_vs._Wikimedia_Foundation) (Indian case re sub judice)

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Latin legal terminology
Category:Judicial legal terminology

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sub judice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub_judice) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub_judice?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.