DE MEDIETATE LINGUAE

de   medietate   linguae   (dee   mee-dee-<<schwa>>-tay-tee   ling-gwee).   [Law   Latin]   Of

half-tongue.  •  This  term  describes  a  jury  made  up  of  an  equal  number  of  natives  and  aliens.

Edward III originally provided for such a jury in commercial cases when one party was an alien. It

was later extended to criminal cases. If enough aliens could not be found, trial proceeded with the

available number. [Blacks Law 8th]