Prima facie

Prima facie (/ˌprmə ˈfʃi, -ʃə, -ʃi/[citation needed]; from Latin prīmā faciē) is a Latin expression meaning at first sight[1] or based on first impression.[2] The literal translation would be 'at first face' or 'at first appearance', from the feminine forms of primus ('first') and facies ('face'), both in the ablative case. In modern, colloquial and conversational English, a common translation would be "on the face of it".

The term prima facie is used in modern legal English (including both civil law and criminal law) to signify that upon initial examination, sufficient corroborating evidence appears to exist to support a case. In common law jurisdictions, a reference to prima facie evidence denotes evidence that, unless rebutted, would be sufficient to prove a particular proposition or fact.[3] The term is used similarly in academic philosophy.[2] Most legal proceedings, in most jurisdictions, require a prima facie case to exist, following which proceedings may then commence to test it, and create a ruling.[3]

  1. ^ "prima facie". Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Reamer, Frederic G. (November 2014). "Prima Facie and Actual Moral Duties in Social Work". Social Work Today.
  3. ^ a b Herlitz, Georg N. (November 1994). "The Meaning of the Term "Prima Facie"". Louisiana Law Review. 55 (2): 394–397. Retrieved 30 August 2021.

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