Lat. Unless. The word 1s often affixed, as a kind of elliptical expression, to the words “rule,” “order,” “decree,” “judgment,” or “confirmation,” to indicate that the adjudication spoken of is one’ which is to stand as valid and operative uniess the party affected by it shall appear and show cause against it, or take some other appropriate step to avoid it or procure its revocation. Thus a “decree nisé” is one which will definitely conclude the defendant’s rights unless, within the prescribed time, he shows cause to set it aside or successfully appeals. The word, in this sense, is opposed to “absolute.” And when a rule nisi is finally confirmed, for the defendant’s failure to show cause against it, It is said to be “mude absolute.” —Nisi feceris. The name of a clause commonly occurring in the old manorial writs, commanding that, if the lords failed to do justice, the king’s court or officer should do it. By virtue of this clause, the king’s court usurped the jurisdiction of the private, manorial, or local courts. Stim. Law Gloss.—Nisi prius. The nist prixe courts are such as are held for the trial of issues of fact before a jury and one presiding judge. In America the phrase is famila used to denote the forum (whatever may be its statutory name) in which the cause was tried to a jury, as distinguished from the appellate court. See 3 Bl. Comm. 58.—Nisi prius clause. In practice. A clause entered on the record in an action at Jaw, authorizing the trial of the cause at nist prius in the particular county designated. It was first used by way of continuance—Nisi prius roll. In practice. The roll or record containing the pleadings, issue, and jury process of an action. made up for use in the ntst priue court.—Nisi prius writ. The old name of the writ of ventre, which originally, in pursuance of the statute of Westminster 2, contained the nisi prius clause. Keg. Jud. 28, 75; Cowell.