Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-10

Tne mOCtO OF the department OF JuSJlcc,
affixed to it's seal, Is "Qai Pro Domina Justitia
Sequitur." There has probably never been a
legend Of similar character that has drawn out
so much comment from lawyers and scholars.
Every now and then District Attorney writes
to the department, quoting the motto, and ask
ing what In the world 1t means, and asserting
that 1t is not good Latin. Some OF the clerks
In the other Departments, who consider them
selves wel up In the classics, after endeavoring
Justice for light. Lawyers In this city, who
pride themselves on their classical learning,
every once In a while drop note to the depart.
Latin professors in some Of the leading colleges
have entered protests against It. short time
ago the president OF one the great eastern col.
learned gentlemen, he entered into DISCUSSION dis o
he motto. The question was inaily re.
institute, 1 who returned ieG verdict OF Of Sne m
pure or colloauial language. The Latin
IN dispute "Qui pro Domino Jsstitia sequi-
lone who sues In the name OF his mistress. ,Jus.
tfce." The objectOrs to this phrase saw that n
Is not C classical Latin and Is unfit to be the
c1assca 9I fse sscS OF Justice II is not
they assert, in that it wants direct object for
the VerD seQu1tur. That's some one or some
Whog Gog sa9 mast m pe ts suea IN Carrying out the
put this Is not provided for In the motto. The
various learned opinions on this motto leave a
cues 3aestSn SaI much & In doubt which would never
OF expression in the sentence In Question
may not be strictly classical. tnyesfira-
uon shows that it Is certainly recognized
by the best forms OF English pleading as good
y in Latin. From this custom has
and origin OF the departments motto.
under Latin pleadings, and even employed In
suits before Parliament, was denominated
"Qui tam pro domino rege sequstuv guam pro se
ror %hS S,mse sssS well IS for his Lord the
denominated " "informations." By changing, in
this old form OF pie aiding. the two words " DOM
ino" ana "rege" Into "domina" and "Justltla,"
finds the origin of the motto. It is not
known which Of the attorney generals adopted
the words in dispute as motto for the depart
tween Judge jeremiah Black and the late Caleb
Cushing. From the account OF the motto given
by Judge Black, it would seem that he adopted
to the learned and imperious Queen Elizabeth.
he says that on one occasion Sir Edward Coke,
attorney for the Crown, In q matter OF business
before the Virgin Queen, made use OF the
The daughter 0 Of 'y1 bun King King Hai Isf" iras
cibly interrupted him with s'No sir; by
God! Qui pro domtna tustttia sequitur!" This
story may be a fact and 1t may be fiction.
search among the writings on the life OF Sir
Edward Coke fails to reveal any mention OF such
a scene. 1t may have been coined from judge
Blacks fertile brain to sustain him In the adop-
ton for the department Of q motto couched In
questionable Latin. II the latter is the case, it
invention are well in hand. 1t is also suggested
that tie motto Is Latin coll0Quialism and ORR
ginally came from the lawyers at Rome. IL II
did its course must have been roundabout.
England got her Latin form Of pleading from
France, and France In turn, when under Roman
rule, took her form from Rome. AT any rate
the correctness and origin OF the motto are
10th matters of speculation.