Nisi prius is the name (borrowed from the first two words of the old writ which summoned juries) usually given in England to the sittings of juries in civil cases. Thus, a judge sitting at nisi prius means a judge presiding at a jury trial in a civil cause, and a nisi prius lawyer is one who devotes himself to jury practice.—For the decree nisi, see DIVORCE.
Nisi prius
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 7: Maltebrun to Pearson, p. 507
Source scan(s): p. 0520