lex non scripta

American  

[leks non skrip-tuh, nohn] / ˈlɛks nɒn ˈskrɪp tə, noʊn /

noun

Law.

1. unwritten law; common law.

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lex non scripta British  

/ nɒn ˈskrɪptə /

noun

1. the unwritten law; common law

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Etymology

Origin of lex non scripta

From Latin lēx nōn scrīpta

Example Sentences

Blackstone divides the civil law of England into lex scripta or statute law, and lex non scripta or common law.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 7 "Columbus" to "Condottiere" by Various

The common law is the law of England, the unwritten law of England, the lex non scripta.

From A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861 by Chittenden, L. E. (Lucius Eugene)

The lex non scripta prevailed before letters were invented.

From Landholding in England by Fisher, Joseph, the younger, of Youghal

This it is that gives it it's weight and authority; and of this nature are the maxims and customs which compose the common law, or lex non scripta, of this kingdom.

From Commentaries on the Laws of England Book the First by Blackstone, William, Sir

But no such statute existing, he must have referred to the common law in the sense of a lex non scripta.

From Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 4 by Randolph, Thomas Jefferson