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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §49.1.6.pr

Appeals by Third Parties on Behalf of Condemned Persons

Passage 8470 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpian argues that an appeal on behalf of someone condemned to death is permitted to be made by anyone out of humanity, regardless of mandate or relationship, and even if the condemned person resists, the execution should be postponed.

[ULPIANUS libro secundo de appellationibus. ] §49.1.6.prNon tantum ei, qui ad supplicium ducitur, prouocare permittitur, uerum alii quoque nomine eius, non tantum si ille mandauerit, uerum quisquis alius prouocare uoluerit.
[ULPIAN, from the second book on appeals.] Not only is it permitted for him who is being led to execution to appeal, but also for another in his name, not only if he has given a mandate, but whoever else wishes to appeal.
neque distinguitur, utrum necessarius eius sit nec ne: credo enim humanitatis ratione omnem prouocantem audiri debere.
And no distinction is made as to whether he is a relative of his or not; for I believe that by reason of humanity everyone who appeals ought to be heard.
ergo et si ipse adquiescit sententiae: nec quaerimus, cuius intersit.
Therefore, [to appeal is permitted] even if he himself acquiesces in the sentence; nor do we inquire whose interest is at stake.
quid ergo, si resistat qui damnatus est aduersus prouocationem, nec uelit admitti eius appellationem perire festinans? adhuc putem differendum supplicium.
What then, if he who has been condemned resists the appeal and, hastening to perish, does not wish his appeal to be admitted? Still, I would think that the execution should be postponed.

Notes

  1. §49.1.6.prergo et si ipse adquiescit sententiae: — In this clause, the main verb phrase 'prouocare permittitur' (it is permitted to appeal) from the preceding sentence is omitted. It is understood as 'Therefore, [to appeal is permitted] even if he himself acquiesces in the sentence.'
  2. §49.1.6.prnec quaerimus, cuius intersit. — The construction of the impersonal verb 'interest' (it concerns, it is of interest to someone), where the person concerned is expressed in the genitive case (here, the genitive of the interrogative pronoun 'cuius'). 'intersit' is in the present subjunctive, forming an indirect question dependent on the main verb 'quaerimus'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §49.1.6.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:49.1.6.pr

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