Hi Laura,
I wouldn't devote a further second to this enquiry. It would be time
wasted. "Infra vires" means exactly the same thing as "intra vires"
in the legal context. It is simply a less accurate way of expressing
exactly the same concept - used solely by those whose knowledge of
Latin is definitely infra that of those who use the correct word
"intra" !
Ron Huttner LL.B (Hons)
(Retired) Barrister, Solicitor, Law Lecturer and Legal Researcher
Melbourne
Victoria
Australia
"Cogito Ergo Sum"
On 03/08/2007, at 9:23 AM, Laura Orr wrote:
> Greetings:
>
> I have a (non-attorney) patron who wants to know exactly what INFRA
> vires means. (We know about ULTRA vires and even INTRA vires.) I
> can piece it together (so to speak), but not with sufficient
> assurance to withstand sharp and close scrutiny and certainly not
> to when it comes to explaining the difference between INTRA and
> INFRA vires to a non-attorney. (Those pesky withins and belows get
> us every time.)
>
> We're a small library with only a couple of dictionaries, Black's
> and one edition of Ballentine, and neither defines INFRA vires (the
> one we really want to know about), though the patron can see each
> word defined individually. A few Internet search engine searches
> help, but something more authoritative is needed.
>
> The context was a page in a book on criminal procedure, but it's
> obviously a word used in several contexts, usually having to do
> with official conduct. Sooo, if a police officer acts INFRA vires,
> is s/he acting within (INTRA) or beneath his/her power (INFRA), or
> are they the same thing? And if BELOW, what the devil does that
> mean if it's different from ULTRA?
>
> It is possible that in the early morning all will become clear to
> me (I'm most definitely a morning person) without assistance, but
> for now, I put myself (throw myself? is there a difference? :-) at
> your mercy.
>
> Many thanks!!!
>
> Laura
>
> Laura J. Orr
> Law Librarian
> Washington County Law Library
> 111 NE Lincoln St
> Hillsboro, OR 97124
>
> Phone: 503-846-8870
> Fax: 503-846-3515
> Email: laura_orr@co.washington.or.us
> URL: http://www.co.washington.or.us/lawlibrary
> Blog: oregonlegalresearch.blogspot.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:47:00 PST