Void Acts

Confirmation is null where the preceding gift is invalid.

Confirmatio est nulla ubi donum praecedens est invalidum.

Source: Co. Litt. 295; Moore 764; Jackson 127; Weisman, 20h

A void act cannot be made valid by subsequent ratification — if the original grant was beyond the power of the grantor, no amount of confirmation can cure it.

That which is null produces no effect.

Quod nullum est, nullum producit effectum.

Source: Tray. Leg. Max. 519; Weisman, 7j; Weisman, 14q

A void act is as though it never occurred — it needs no revocation because it never had force. Ultra vires contracts, unconstitutional statutes, and acts without authority fall under this maxim.

That which is bad in its beginning does not improve by lapse of time.

Quod ab initio non valet, in tractu temporis non convalescet.

Source: Broom, Max. 178; 4 Coke, 2

An act founded in corruption cannot ripen into legitimacy merely because no one challenged it promptly — illegality at the root is permanent.

A judicial act performed before one who is not the proper judge is void; but a ministerial act, from whomsoever it proceeds, may be ratified.

Actus judiciarius coram non judice irritus habetur, de ministeriali autem a quocunque provenit ratum esto.

Source: Lofft 458; Broom, Max. 92

The distinction between judicial and ministerial acts is critical — only ministerial defects may be cured after the fact; a void judgment for want of jurisdiction cannot be made valid by ratification.