coram non judice

since his jurisdiction was strictly special and limited, it is essential to the validity of his judgment, and of the proceedings under it, that the record should show that he acted upon a case which the law submitted to his jurisdiction.

Acts done by a court which has no jurisdiction either over the person, the cause, or the process, are said to be coram, non judice. 1 Conn. 40. Such acts have no validity. If an act is required to be done before a particular person, it would not be considered as done before him if he were asleep or non compos mentis. 5 Har. & J. (Md.) 42; 8 Cranch (U. S.) 9; Paine (U. S.) 55; 1 Prest. Conv. 266.

Acts done by court which has no jurisdiction either over the person, the cause, or the process, are said to be coram non judice. Gruinon v. Raymond, 1 Conn. 40, 0 Am. Dec. 200. Such acts have no validity. If an act is required to be done before a particular person, it would not be considered as done before bim if he were asleep or non compos vuntix; Wickes' Lessee v. Caulk, 5 Harr. & J. (Md.) 42; Griffith v. Frazier, 8 Cra. (U. S.) 9, 3 L. Ed. 471; Fisher v. Harnden, 1 Paine 55, Fed. Cas. No. 4,819; 1 Prest. Conv. 206.

In presence of a person not a judge. When a suit is brought and determined in a court which has no jurisdiction in the matter, then it is said to be coram non judice, and the judgment is void. Manufacturing Co. v. Holt, 51 W. Va. 352, 41 S. E. 351.

Defined under Coram in Black's Law Dictionary.

Lat. Before one who is not a judge, or who has not jurisdiction. 3 BL Com. 111. 10 Co. 76. Where an action is brought in a court whereof the judges have not any jurisdiction, it is said to be coram nonjudice. Cro. Eliz. 530. Cro. Joe. 631. Temus de la ley. It is also sometimes applied to proceedings even in a court having jurisdiction, where they become void by irregularity. W. Jon, 170.