medietas linguae

1 definition found

medietas linguae - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  MEDIETAS LINGUAE. Half tongue. This expression was used to signify that a 
  jury for the trial of a foreigner or alien for a crime, was to be composed 
  one half of natives and the other of foreigners. The jury de medietate 
  linguae is used in but a few if any of the United States. Dane's Ab. vol. 6, 
  c. 182, a, 4, n. 1. Vide 2 Johns. R. 381; 1 Chit. Cr. Law, 525; Bac. Ab. 
  Juries, E 8.