Friday phrase: nisi prius

[med_cat]

Nisi prius (/ˈnaɪsaɪ ˈpraɪəs/) is a historical term in English law. In the nineteenth century, it came to be used to denote generally all legal actions tried before judges of the King's Bench Division and in the early twentieth century for actions tried at assize by a judge given a commission.

More details in this Wikipedia article

Example:

And that Nisi Prius nuisance, who just now is rather rife, The Judicial humorist —
I've got him on the list!
All funny fellows, comic men, and clowns of private life —
They'd none of 'em be missed — they'd none of 'em be missed.

(from Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado, "I've got a little list", the Head Executioner's song)