coram nobis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low
UK/ˌkɒ.rəm ˈnəʊ.bɪs/US/ˌkɔːr.əm ˈnoʊ.bɪs/

Formal, Technical, Archaic

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Quick answer

What does “coram nobis” mean?

A rare legal writ (order from a court) used to correct a fundamental error in a previous judgment, where no other remedy is available.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A rare legal writ (order from a court) used to correct a fundamental error in a previous judgment, where no other remedy is available.

An extraordinary remedy in law, rooted in English common law, allowing a court to revisit and correct its own final judgment due to an error of fact (not law) that wasn't known at the time of trial and that would have changed the outcome. It is a plea to the court's conscience.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The writ is largely obsolete in modern UK law, having been replaced by statutory procedures. It retains a vestigial, highly restricted use in some US federal and state jurisdictions (e.g., to challenge a conviction based on newly discovered evidence of a constitutional violation).

Connotations

In both contexts, it connotes an archaic, last-resort legal mechanism. In the US, it may carry a slight connotation of a desperate, long-shot legal maneuver in post-conviction proceedings.

Frequency

Extremely rare in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical US legal texts or specialist criminal procedure discussions than in modern British legal practice.

Grammar

How to Use “coram nobis” in a Sentence

[defendant] filed a petition for a writ of coram nobis.The court granted/applied the writ of coram nobis.Coram nobis is an [adjective] remedy.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
writ ofpetition formotion forerror
medium
apply forgrant afile acommon lawextraordinary remedy
weak
rarelegalhistoricaljudgmentconviction

Examples

Examples of “coram nobis” in a Sentence

verb

American English

  • The defendant sought to coram nobis the 20-year-old conviction.

adjective

American English

  • He filed a coram nobis petition based on newly discovered evidence.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used only in specialized historical or legal academic texts discussing Anglo-American legal procedure.

Everyday

Never used.

Technical

Exclusively used in technical legal writing, specifically in criminal procedure or legal history.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “coram nobis”

Neutral

writ of errorpost-conviction reliefextraordinary remedy

Weak

judicial review (context-specific)reconsideration (context-specific)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “coram nobis”

direct appealaffirmancefinal judgment

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “coram nobis”

  • Using it as a general synonym for 'appeal'.
  • Pronouncing 'coram' with a hard 'c' (like 'core'). It's a soft 'c' (like 'coral').
  • Treating it as a common, contemporary legal term.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. It is an extremely specialized, archaic legal term of Latin origin. You will only encounter it in historical texts or highly technical legal discussions.

An appeal challenges a legal error based on the known trial record. Coram nobis challenges a factual error that was unknown and could not have been known during the original proceedings.

In very technical US legal jargon, it is sometimes used informally as a verb (e.g., 'to coram nobis a conviction'), but this is non-standard. It is primarily a noun phrase ('a writ of coram nobis').

It remains important in legal history as a precursor to modern post-conviction relief statutes. Its conceptual framework—allowing correction of a manifest injustice—is foundational, even if the specific Latin writ is rarely used.

A rare legal writ (order from a court) used to correct a fundamental error in a previous judgment, where no other remedy is available.

Coram nobis is usually formal, technical, archaic in register.

Coram nobis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒ.rəm ˈnəʊ.bɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːr.əm ˈnoʊ.bɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a noble (nobis) standing CORAM (before) a king in court, begging for a review of an old case because of a secret fact just discovered.

Conceptual Metaphor

THE LAW AS A LIVING RECORD (a final court record can be corrected, like erasing an error in a ledger). / A LAST DOOR IN THE COURTHOUSE (it represents a final, seldom-used exit).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The attorney argued that the newly discovered DNA evidence justified filing a petition for a writ of .
Multiple Choice

In which context is the term 'coram nobis' most appropriately used?