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priority. 1. The status of being earlier in time or higher in degree or rank; precedence. 2.Commercial law. An established right to such precedence; esp., a creditor’s right to have a claim paid before other creditors of the same debtor receive payment. [Cases: Secured Transactions 138–145.C.J.S. Secured Transactions §§ 88, 90–102, 106–107, 118.] 3. The…

priori petenti (prI-or-I p<<schwa>>-ten-tI). [Latin “to the first person applying”] Wills & estates. The principle that when two or more persons are equally entitled to administer an estate, the court will appoint the person who applies first. [Blacks Law 8th]

prior inconsistent statement. See STATEMENT. [Blacks Law 8th]

prior-exclusive-jurisdiction doctrine. The rule that a court will not assume in rem jurisdiction over property that is already under the jurisdiction of another court of concurrent jurisdiction. [Blacks Law 8th]

prior creditor. See CREDITOR. [Blacks Law 8th]

prior consistent statement. See STATEMENT. [Blacks Law 8th]

prior-claim rule. The principle that before suing for a tax refund or abatement, a taxpayer must first assert the claim to the Internal Revenue Service. [Cases: Internal Revenue 5003.] [Blacks Law 8th]

prior art. See ART. [Blacks Law 8th]

prior-appropriation doctrine. The rule that, among the persons whose properties border on a waterway, the earliest users of the water have the right to take all they can use before anyone else has a right to it. Cf. RIPARIAN-RIGHTS DOCTRINE . [Cases: Waters and Water Courses 140. C.J.S. Waters §§ 376, 380, 391–393.] [Blacks Law…

prior, adj. 1. Preceding in time or order <under this court’s prior order>. 2. Taking precedence <a prior lien>. prior, n. Criminal law. Slang. A previous conviction <because the defendant had two priors, the judge automatically enhanced his sentence>. [Blacks Law 8th]