PRAEVARICATIO

praevaricatio (pri-var-<<schwa>>-kay-shee-oh), n. [Latin “collusion with an opponent”] Roman law. An accuser’s colluding with the defense in such a way that the accused will be acquitted. • An accuser might do this in various ways, as by deemphasizing the most important charges, refraining from calling the most important witnesses, or refraining from exercising peremptory challenges against jurors who would tend to favor the accused. See CALUMNIA. Cf. TERGIVERSATIO.

[Blacks Law 8th]