Nunc Pro Tunc

Now for then. A phrase applied to acts allowed to be done after the time when they should be done, with the same effect as if done at the proper time. Leave of coui't must be obtained for the doing of things nunc pro tunc; but leave is granted freely to subserve the purposes of justice. Even a judgment has been ordered to be entered nunc pro tunc; but usually only where delay has arisen from the act of the court itself. When a party has omitted to take some step which he ought to have taken, — as to file an afiidavit or to enter up' judgment, for instance, — the court will sometimes permit him to do it after the proper time has passed done; and this, in the case of the affidavit, is called filing it nunc pro tunc, or, in the case of entering up judgment, is called entering it nunc pro tunc; i.e., doing it now for (or instead of) then. By rule No. 56 H. T. 1853, all judgments, whether interlocutory or final, shall be entered of record of the day of the month and year, whether in term or vacation, when signed, and shall not have relation to any other day; but it shall be competent to the court or a judge to order a judgment to be entered nunc pro tunc. Under this rule, a judgment is frequently allowed to be entered nunc pro tunc, where the signing of it has been delayed by the act of the court; and usually in the case of the death of a party, e.g. if a party dies after special verdict, or after a special case has been stated for the opinion of the court, or after a motion in arrest of judgment, or for a new trial, or after a demurrer set down for argument and pending the time taken for argument, or while the court is considering its judgm'ent. The power to order judgment to be entered nunc pro tunc belongs, at common law, to the courts.

Broum

By the judicature act, 1875, 1st sched. ord. xli. r. 2, where any judgment is pronounced by the court or by a judge in court, the entry of the judgment shall be dated as of the day on which such judgment is pronounced; and the judgment shall take effect from that date. And, in other cases, by rule No. 3, the entry of judgment shall be dated as of the day on which the requisite documents are left with the proper officer for the purpose of such entry; and the judgment shall take effect from that date. Mozley Sf W.