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Definition: equity from Philip's Encyclopedia

In law, a field of jurisdiction that enables the judiciary to apply principles or morals in cases where strict adherence to the law would result in unjust sentencing. In some systems, equity is considered before the jury makes its decision.

equity

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
principles of justice originally developed by the English chancellor. In Anglo-American jurisprudence equitable principles and remedies are distinguished from the older system that the common law courts evolved. One of the earliest functions of the king's chaplain (the chancellor) and of the chancery (the office that he headed) was to govern access to the royal courts by issuing on application the appropriate original writ . At first the chancellor had great discretion in framing writs, but in time he was limited to a few rigidly circumscribed forms, and in certain cases worthy claims could not be satisfied. From this inadequacy arose the practice of appealing directly for aid to the chancellor as the “keeper of the king's conscience.” By the early 16th cent. a fairly well-defined jurisdiction was exercised by the court of chancery in rivalry with the common law. In the 17th cent. it was definitely established that the court of chancery would decide any claim to jurisdiction that the…
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Full text Article equity

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
principles of justice originally developed by the English chancellor. In Anglo-American jurisprudence equitable principles and remedies are distinguished from the older system that the common law courts evolved. One of the earliest functions of the king's chaplain (the chancellor) and of the…
| 480 words
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Full text Article Equity

From Encyclopedia of Diversity and Social Justice
Equity is a term that is often conflated with other terms, such as equality , diversity , fairness , and more. Within social science, equity is viewed and understood in terms of one's relations and interactions with others, particularly where disconnects in opportunity, identity, and privilege…
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Full text Article Equity

From International Encyclopedia of Human Geography
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Glossary Ethics The philosophy and practice of determining and conducting behaviors and outcomes in a given situation are safe, morally “right,” just, and fair. For some, ethics are governed by a set of universal, “external” rules. For others, ethics rest…
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Full text Article EQUITY

From International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family
It is not surprising that in cultures founded on principles of individualism, equality, and capitalism, such as in the United States, theories concerned with fairness and exchange would develop regarding close relationships. A large body of relationship research has originated from a group of…
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Full text Article Equity

From The SAGE Encyclopedia of Higher Education
Equity refers to a state of affairs that is just, or fair. In regard to educational policy and practice, equity is a standard that guides decision-making by legislators, courts, administrators, and faculty about who to involve in higher education, to what extent, and with what quality of educational…
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Full text Article equity

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Justice according to fairness, especially as distinguished from mechanical application of rules under common law . Courts of equity (also called chancery courts) arose in England in the 14th century in response to the increasingly strict rules of proof and other requirements of the courts of law. …
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From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law
:justice according to fairness esp. as distinguished from mechanical application of rules [prompted by considerations of ~] [comity between nations, and ~ require it to be paid for —F. A. Magruder] b :something that is equitable :an instance of equity [the inequities produced by the system are…
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Full text Article equity

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
System of law supplementing the ordinary rules of law where the application of these would operate harshly in a particular case; sometimes it is regarded as an attempt to achieve ‘natural justice’. So understood, equity appears as an element in most legal systems, and in a number of legal codes…
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From The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language
The state or quality of being just and fair. Something that is just and fair. Law a. Justice achieved not simply according to the strict letter of the law but in accordance with principles of substantial justice and the unique facts of the case. b. See court of equity . …
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Full text Article equity

From Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Political Thought
1 . General. Equity is another name for just dealing, and must not be confused with equality . While it is tautologous to say that treating people equitably is just, it is certainly not tautologous, although some think it true, to say that it is just to treat them equally. 2 . In legal usage, …
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