Maxim 8.10.4
Things accepted on account of necessity ought not to be drawn into precedent.
Quae propter necessitatem recepta sunt, non debent in argumentum trahi.
Source: Dig. 50, 17, 162; Weisman, 83k; Weisman, 88g
Difficulty 1/5 — Foundational
Explanation
Emergency measures are exceptions, not rules — what the law tolerates under extraordinary circumstances must not become the standard for ordinary times.
Where this applies
- Wartime emergency measures should not become peacetime norms.
- COVID-era emergency orders shouldn't be treated as precedent for permanent government powers.
Legal domains
See also
Cite this maxim
NeCede Max. 8.10.4 — Things accepted on account of necessity ought not to be drawn into precedent. — Dig. 50, 17, 162; Weisman, 83k; Weisman, 88g (Quae propter necessitatem recepta sunt, non debent in argumentum trahi.)
Found an error? Suggest a correction →