nulla poena sine lege

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nulla poena sine lege

Definition

A Latin phrase that literally means “no punishment without law” and which is used as shorthand for the legal principle that a criminal defendant may not be convicted for an action that is not prohibited by law. The phrase is also cited for the prohibition on ex post facto laws, which retroactively create crimes or increase penalties.

Related rules

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— Rogers v. Tennessee

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— United States v. Josef Altstoetter

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