Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum Legal Definition: Latin: do justice though the heavens fall. Related Terms: Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex , Roman Law A maxim referred to, form time to time, by courts in their judgments to signify that though there may be significant or unpopular consequences to their decision, judgment in accordance with the principles of justice will issue regardless.Above the main hearing bench of the Georgia Supreme Court (United States) is the inscription:Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum. Other spellings:Fiat justitia, ruat coelumFiat justitiae, ruat caelum.Often shorted to, simply, fiat justitia and presented as let right be done. Litigants will reference this maxim to address a defendant's concern that to allow the claim might ruin a corporation, an insurance fund or jeopardize the resources of some public service. REFERENCES: Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Salus Populi Est Suprema LexDuhaime, Lloyd, Duhaime's Legal Dictionary Duhaime, Lloyd, Duhaime's Legal Citations & Abbreviations Mayrand, Albert, Dictionnaire de maximes et locutions latines utilisées en droit (Montréal: Éditions Yvon Blais, 2007), page 183 Categories & Topics: Dictionary of Latin Law Terms Unless otherwise noted, this page was written by Lloyd Duhaime of Duhaime.org Always looking up definitions? Save time with our search provider (modern browsers only) If you find an error or omission in Duhaime's Legal Dictionary, or if you have suggestion for a legal term, we'd love to hear from you!