ex post facto

the ex post facto clause looks to the standard of punishment prescribed by a statute, rather than to the sentence actually imposed. The Constitution forbids the application of any new punitive measure to a crime already consummated, to the detriment or material disadvantage of the wrongdoer.

After the faci; by an act or fact occurring after some previous act or fact, and relating thereto; by subsequent matter; the opposite of ah inttio. Thus, a deed muy be good ab initio, or, if invalid at its inception, may be confirmed by matter ex post facto,

contracts, crim. law. This is a technical expression which signifies, that something has been after another thing, in relation to the latter. An estate granted may be made good or avoided by matter ex post facto, when an election is given to the party to accept or not to accept. 1 Co. 146. The constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 10, forbids the states to any ex post facto law, which 2 as been defined to be one which when it was committed. 6 Cranch, 138. ‘This definition extends to laws passed after the act, and affecting a person by way of punishment of that act, either in his person or estate. 3 Dall. 386; 1 Blackf. Ind. R. 193; 2 Pet. U. S. Rep. 413; 1 Kent, Com. 408; Dane’s Ab. Index, h. t. This prohibition in the constitution against passing ez post facto laws, applies exclusively to criminal or penal cases, and not to civil cases. Serg. Const. Law, 356.