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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §40.1.24.pr-40.1.24.1

Preference for Freedom in Case of Split Judges or Witnesses

Passage 6318 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Provisions establishing that when the opinions of judges are equally split or when witnesses for and against freedom are equal in number, the decision must favor freedom in accordance with the principle of favor libertatis.

[HERMOGENIANUS libro primo iuris epitomarum. ] §40.1.24.prLege Iunia Petronia, si dissonantes pares iudicum existant sententiae, pro libertate pronuntiari iussum.
[HERMOGENIANUS, in the first book of the Epitome of Law.] By the Lex Junia Petronia, if there should be conflicting but equal opinions among the judges, it is ordered that judgment be pronounced in favor of freedom.
§40.1.24.1Sed et si testes non dispari numero tam pro libertate quam contra libertatem dixerint, pro libertate pronuntiandum esse saepe constitutum est.
But also, if witnesses of an equal number have testified both in favor of freedom and against freedom, it has often been established that judgment must be pronounced in favor of freedom.

Notes

  1. §40.1.24.prdissonantes pares — Both dissonantes (conflicting) and pares (equal) modify sententiae. Together they mean "opinions that are conflicting but equal in number."
  2. §40.1.24.priussum — The auxiliary verb est is omitted after the perfect participle iussum, forming the impersonal passive iussum est (it is ordered). The passive infinitive clause pro libertate pronuntiari functions as its subject.
  3. §40.1.24.1non dispari numero — A double negation (litotes) meaning "not unequal in number," i.e., "in equal number." This is an ablative phrase of manner or circumstance modifying the action of the witnesses.
  4. §40.1.24.1pronuntiandum esse — An accusative with infinitive construction using the gerundive (pronuntiandum esse), functioning as the subject of the impersonal main verb constitutum est (it has been established), expressing obligation.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §40.1.24.pr-40.1.24.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:40.1.24.pr-40.1.24.1

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