nugatory

 nugatory (comparative more nugatory, superlative most nugatory)

1. Trivial, trifling or of little importance.
1. Ineffective, invalid or futile.
2. (law) Having no force, inoperative, ineffectual.
3. (computing) Removable from a computer program with safety, but harmless if retained.

Borrowed from Latin nūgātōrius

indefensible

 

indefensible (comparative more indefensible, superlative most indefensible)

1. Not defensible; not capable of being defended

   Synonym: vulnerable

2. Incapable of being justified or excused

   Synonyms: inexcusable, unpardonable

3. Incapable of being explained

   Synonyms: untenable, insupportable, invalid

recognizance

In British, Canadian and American law, the term recognizance is usually employed to describe an obligation of record, entered into before some court or magistrate duly authorized, whereby the party bound acknowledges (recognizes) that s/he owes a personal debt to the government or Crown, with a defeasance, i.e. subject to a condition that the obligation to pay shall be avoided if he shall do some particular act, as if s/he shall appear at the assizes, keep the peace, or the like.

Recognizance is most often encountered regarding bail in criminal cases. By filing a bail bond with the court, the defendants will usually be released from imprisonment pending a trial or appeal. If no bail has been set, the defendants are released "on their own recognizance." Release on recognizance is sometimes called RoR, or, particularly in the United States, OR.

Legalism

Legalism, in the Western sense, is an approach to the analysis of legal questions characterized by abstract logical reasoning focusing on the applicable legal text, such as a constitution, legislation, or case law, rather than on the social, economic, or political context. Legalism has occurred both in civil and common law traditions.