LEGIT VEL NON?

legit vel non?(lee-jit vel non). [Latin] Eccles. law. Does he read or not? • This was the formal question propounded by a secular court to an ordinary (an ecclesiastical official) when an accused person claimed exemption from the court’s jurisdiction by benefit of clergy. If the ordinary found that the accused was entitled to exemption, he responded “legit ut clericus,” or, “he reads like a clerk.” See BENEFIT OF CLERGY.

 [Blacks Law 8th]