Amicus curiae – this term comes from Latin. Literally, it means “friend of the court”. The term details the persons asking for permission to intervene in a case in which they are neither claimant or defendant, usually to present their point of legal view (or that of their organization) in a case which has the potential of setting a legal precedent in their practice area. This is common, for example, in civil rights cases. And, in some cases, can only be done with the permission of the parties or the court.