Black's Law Dictionary
by Bryan A. Garner · first published 1990
25mentions
1recommended by
20HN commenters
2010–2024first – last mentioned
5% recommend90% neutral5% critical
Features more than ten thousand legal terms and includes a dictionary guide and the complete United States Constitution.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
…have already established that I don't agree that this is a true statement, and you've said nothing which could change my mind... You need to start at the very beginning, the definition of legal right. Black's Law Dictionary is a good place to start. Basically a legal right is something the law provides a legal remedy for if violated. Since you don't think the victim in this case had a right not to be kicked and punched…
on “Silicon Valley CEO who allegedly kicked girlfriend 117 times gets 1 year in jail” ↗…you're welcome! Just be aware that that's a sort of personal preference list, rather than anything systematic. I can't suggest anything specific to read on the language side. You could pick up a copy of Black's Law Dictionary, the standard reference work, but to be honest you'd find good definitions for most of the common legal phrases on Wikipedia or the Cornell LII for free. Learning to read legal citations and look things…
on “Ask HN: Useful law books?” ↗…as I can. I'm in touch with both attorneys, academics, and (soon) arbitration providers to see what I could learn. I'm still working on figuring some additional ways to learn more. [0] Kangaroo Court—Black’s Law Dictionary—Ninth Edition. (2009). In Bryan A. Garner (Ed.), Black’s Law Dictionary (Ninth Edition, p. 409). WEST - Thomson Reuters. ↩
on “Uber terms mean couple can't sue after 'life-changing' crash” ↗…as I can. I'm in touch with both attorneys, academics, and (soon) arbitration providers to see what I could learn. I'm still working on figuring some additional ways to learn more. [0] Kangaroo Court—Black’s Law Dictionary—Ninth Edition. (2009). In Bryan A. Garner (Ed.), Black’s Law Dictionary (Ninth Edition, p. 409). WEST - Thomson Reuters.
on “Pre Dispute Arbitration Agreements – Pros and Cons” ↗> I'm saying if you punt on tanks, you aren't actually an absolutist about the right to bear arms. Black's Law Dictionary defines the word arms as "anything that a man wears for his defense, or takes in his hands as a weapon." The word "arms" in the right to keep and bear arms explicitly meant weapons that could be carried…
on “When parties reverse their stance, supporters immediately switch their opinions” ↗…"funds" included in the definition of "financial transaction" [1] covers bitcoins. "Funds" typically denotes cash or an asset that is highly liquid, not just anything which can be purchased or sold. Black's Law Dictionary defines "fund" as a "sum of money or other liquid assets established for a specific purpose." Bitcoins, at this stage, are accepted almost nowhere, recognized by few people as currency, and represent…
on “Judge Shoots Down ‘Bitcoin Isn’t Money’ Argument in Silk Road Trial” ↗Bribery: "Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift given that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery
on “MPAA Publicly Threatens to Stop Writing Checks” ↗A permit, as defined by Black's law dictionary (paraphrased[1]), is authorization to commit an otherwise criminal/forbidden act. Thus if you had a skulking permit that authorizes you to steal and kill, you legally could commit what was a crime. [...]…
on “The Inexplicable War on Lemonade Stands” ↗Disambiguation is called for in respect to what democracy actually is... http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democracy_vs_Republic Black's Law Dictionary says that the difference between a democracy and a republic is that sovereignty is retained by the individual within a republic. (USA is a Constitutional Republic) The article fails to note that democracy…
on “Is democracy overrated?” ↗No it isn't. Printing a single copy at your request is not distribution, which implies division among several recipients (according to Black's Law Dictionary).
on “How I Killed A Startup In 4 Hours (And Why I Don’t Regret It)” ↗You're making shit up. There's nothing in the legal definition of "right" that implies it must be waiveable. From Black's Law Dictionary: "An interest or expectation guaranteed by law". There are inalienable (or inherent rights) which cannot be transferred or surrendered (though they might be terminated): life, liberty. And there are…
on “Non Compete Clauses Reduce Innovation” ↗>There's nothing in the legal definition of "right" that implies it must be waiveable. From Black's Law Dictionary: "An interest or expectation guaranteed by law". I wasn't speaking of legal definitions, just making the uninteresting observation that, if I can't trade a right for something more valuable to me, then…
on “Non Compete Clauses Reduce Innovation” ↗…the use of Bitcoin cryptographic money for the benefit of users worldwide.' (my emphasis) Bitcoin has been referred to as a 'cryptocurrency' since its inception, and much as I treasure my own copy of Black's Law Dictionary, its definitions are not legally binding. You might as well say 'my clients large collection of unfinished diamonds and gold nuggets don't amount to a hoard of wealth - have you ever tried to buy groceries…
on “Judge Shoots Down ‘Bitcoin Isn’t Money’ Argument in Silk Road Trial” ↗617 entries is nothing. Look at Black's Law Dictionary. The problem with Black's is that as much as a third is archaic. Maybe half. Uncommon words and phrases that lawyers use would be useful--"affiant" is missing, btw--but at best this is a minor glossary.…
on “Show HN: International Legal Dictionary” ↗The only definition found in the Black's Law Dictionary is for occult marriage, which is when only the two parties of the wedding know. I think the legal definition of occult could very well be within the bounds of hidden (which makes sense in the context)…
on “Square credit card app forbids purchase of "occult materials" in EULA” ↗