Law Dictionary Definitions

authority. 1. The right or permission to act legally on another’s behalf; esp., the power of one person to affect another’s legal relations by acts done in accordance with the other’s manifestations of assent; the power delegated by a principal to an agent <authority to sign the contract>. — Also termed power over other persons.…

authoritative precedent.See binding precedent under PRECEDENT.[Blacks Law 8th]

author.  1.Copyright. The  person  who  creates  an  expressive  work,  or  the  person  or  business that  hires  another  to  create  an  expressive  work.  •  In  copyright  law,  “author”  applies  to  a  broad range  of  occupations,  including  writers,  artists,  programmers,  choreographers,  and  translators. [Cases: Copyrights and Intellectual Property    41(1).] 2. One from whom a right or title…

authenticum  (aw-then-t<<schwa>>-k<<schwa>>m).Roman  &  civil  law.  1.  An  original instrument.  2.  (cap.)  A  Latin  version  of  134  Novels  promulgated  by  Justinian  mostly  in  Greek between A.D. 535 and 556. — Also termed Authenticae.[Blacks Law 8th]

authentic interpretation.See INTERPRETATION.[Blacks Law 8th]

authentication,n.1.  Broadly,  the  act  of  proving  that  something  (as  a  document)  is  true  or genuine,  esp.  so  that  it  may  be  admitted  as  evidence;  the  condition  of  being  so  proved <authentication  of  the  handwriting>.  [Cases:  Criminal  Law    444;  Evidence    366–381.]  2. Specif., the assent to or adoption of a writing as one’s own. “The  concept …

authenticate,vb.1.  To  prove  the  genuineness  of  (a  thing).  [Cases:  Criminal  Law    444; Evidence    366–381.]  2.  To  render  authoritative  or  authentic,  as  by  attestation  or  other  legal formality. See UCC § 9-102(a)(7). [Cases: Contracts    37. C.J.S. Contracts § 79.][Blacks Law 8th]

authentic  act.Civil  law.  1.  A  writing  signed  before  a  notary  public  or  other  public  officer. [Cases: Acknowledgment    1. C.J.S. Acknowledgments §§ 2–4.] 2. A certified copy of a writing. [Cases: Evidence    343.C.J.S. Evidence §§ 887–888.][Blacks Law 8th]

Australian ballot.See BALLOT(4).[Blacks Law 8th]

AUSA.abbr.See Assistant United States Attorney under UNITED STATES ATTORNEY.[Blacks Law 8th]