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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §2.12.7.pr

Extensions of Time for Producing Documents

Passage 349 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This fragment discusses the limitation on granting extensions of time for producing documents established by an address of Marcus Aurelius, highlighting the practical exceptions for granting a second extension upon investigation and its applicability to the successor of a deceased litigant.

[IDEM libro primo de officio consulis. ] §2.12.7.prOratione quidem diui Marci amplius quam semel non esse dandam instrumentorum dilationem expressum est: sed utilitatis litigantium gratia causa cognita et iterum dilatio tam ex eadem quam ex alia prouincia secundum moderamen locorum impertiri solet, et maxime si aliquid inopinatum emergat.
[THE SAME, On the Office of Consul, book 1] It is indeed expressed in an address of the Divine Marcus that an extension of time for documents is not to be granted more than once; but for the benefit of the litigants, after an inquiry into the case, a second extension is usually granted, whether from the same or from another province, according to the adjustment of the distances, and especially if something unexpected arises.
Illud uidendum, si defunctus acceperit aliquam dilationem propter instrumenta, an successori quoque eius dari debeat, an uero, quia iam data est, amplius dari non possit? et magis est, ut et hic causa cognita dari debeat.
The following must be considered: if the deceased had received any extension of time on account of documents, whether it ought to be granted to his successor as well, or whether, because it has already been granted, it cannot be granted further? And it is more correct that in this case too it ought to be granted after an inquiry into the case.

Notes

  1. §2.12.7.prOratione quidem diui Marci amplius quam semel non esse dandam instrumentorum dilationem expressum est — The main verb `expressum est` is used impersonally, taking the accusative-with-infinitive clause `non esse dandam ... dilationem` as its subject. `oratione` is an ablative of means or instrument.
  2. §2.12.7.prcausa cognita — An ablative absolute formed by the noun `causa` and the participle `cognita`, meaning "after the case has been investigated" or "upon due inquiry". It indicates that the judge's discretionary process of factual examination is a prerequisite.
  3. §2.12.7.pret magis est, ut — The phrase `magis est, ut` is an idiomatic expression used by Roman jurists to signal the preferred or more authoritative opinion among differing views, meaning "it is more correct/preferable that...". The `ut` clause takes the subjunctive.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §2.12.7.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:2.12.7.pr

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