Non liquet

In law, a non liquet is a situation where there is no applicable law. Non liquet translates into English from Latin as "it is not clear." According to Cicero, the term was applied during the Roman Republic to a verdict of "not proven" where the guilt or innocence of the accused was "not clear." Lacuna is a related word which means "gap, void, defect, want, or loss" and is used to indicate a gap in the law. Lacunae are distinct from loopholes, in which a law exists but which can be circumvented legally due to an unforeseen or unintended inadequacy in the said law. A lacuna, on the other hand, is a situation in which a law or provision is lacking in the first place.