Nullum tempus occurrit regi
Encyclopedia
Nullum tempus occurrit regi ("no time runs against the king"), sometimes abbreviated nullum tempus, is a common law
doctrine originally expressed by Bracton
in his De legibus et consuetudinibus Angliae in the 1250s. It states that the crown is not subject to statute of limitations
. This means that the crown can proceed with actions that would be barred if brought by an individual due to the passage of time. The doctrine is still in force in common law systems today, in a republic
it is often referred to as nullum tempus occurrit reipublicae.
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
doctrine originally expressed by Bracton
Henry de Bracton
Henry of Bracton, also Henry de Bracton, also Henrici Bracton, or Henry Bratton also Henry Bretton was an English jurist....
in his De legibus et consuetudinibus Angliae in the 1250s. It states that the crown is not subject to statute of limitations
Statute of limitations
A statute of limitations is an enactment in a common law legal system that sets the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings based on that event may be initiated...
. This means that the crown can proceed with actions that would be barred if brought by an individual due to the passage of time. The doctrine is still in force in common law systems today, in a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
it is often referred to as nullum tempus occurrit reipublicae.
Further reading
- Donald W. Sutherland, Quo Warranto Proceedings in the Reign of Edward I, 1278-1294 (Oxford; Clarendon Press, 1963)