Nisi prius

“Nisi prius” is a Latin legal term that means “unless before” or “unless previously” in English. In the context of law, it usually refers to a court where specific legal matters are initially heard and tried before they can proceed to a higher court. Typically, nisi prius courts deal with civil cases such as personal injury lawsuits or contract disputes at the trial level. These cases are first heard in the nisi prius court and if either party is dissatisfied with the outcome, they can appeal to a higher court for a review. In some legal systems, nisi prius courts have been replaced or integrated into the general court system. However, the term is still occasionally used to describe certain trial-level courts.e