the.com/statute of limitations
the law's way of saying let it go, eventually, even if you shouldn't.
means a legal deadline after which you can no longer be sued or prosecuted for a specific act, even if you actually did it.
from traces to roman law and old english common law, built on the idea that evidence rots, memories fail, and defendants deserve peace from ancient accusations hanging over them forever.
murder exceptionmost places have no time limit for murder
clock resetcan pause if the defendant flees the state
civil vs criminalcivil suits often get shorter windows than crimes
discovery ruleclock can start when harm was discovered, not when it happened
for instance
cosby prosecutions — many accusers barred by decades-old expired deadlines
bill cosby civil suit — 2018 conviction later overturned, other claims time-barred
child abuse reform laws — california and new york opened lookback windows post-2019
nazi war crimes — germany abolished limitations for murder in 1979