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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §48.5.44.pr

Remarriage After Defective Divorce and Malicious Intent

Passage 8218 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Julianus argues that marrying a woman whose divorce was legally incomplete does not constitute adultery due to the lack of malicious intent, with an exception for those who knew of the legal defect.

[GAIUS libro tertio ad legem duodecim tabularum. ] §48.5.44.prSi ex lege repudium missum non sit et idcirco mulier adhuc nupta esse uideatur, tamen si quis eam uxorem duxerit, adulter non erit.
[GAIUS, Book III on the Law of the Twelve Tables.] If notice of divorce has not been sent in accordance with the law, and for that reason the woman still appears to be married, nevertheless, if anyone marries her, he will not be an adulterer.
idque Saluius Iulianus respondit, quia adulterium, inquit, sine dolo malo non committitur: quamquam dicendum, ne is, qui sciret eam ex lege repudiatam non esse, dolo malo committat.
And Salvius Julianus gave this response, "Because," he says, "adultery is not committed without malicious intent." Although it must be said that he who knew she was not divorced in accordance with the law commits it with malicious intent.

Notes

  1. §48.5.44.prne is, qui sciret eam ex lege repudiatam non esse, dolo malo committat — The ne clause dependent on the gerundive dicendum [est] ('it must be said') introduces a preventive or restrictive exception to the general rule stated in the preceding clause (that adultery requires dolus malus). It is interpreted as 'lest he... should commit [with impunity], it must be said that he commits with malicious intent,' thereby excluding the knowing party from the general exemption.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §48.5.44.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:48.5.44.pr

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