Week 3 - Roman Law

Roman Law: origin, significance

• Ancient Greek Philosophy (ties) → application of scientific methods

• enactment (the process of passing legislation) of statutes (a written law passed by a legislative body)

• emerging class of prof. jurists

• law as a science

Civil Law

• reliance on legal codes & statutes

Common Law

• reliance on judicial precedent

Law of Twelve Tables

• c. 449 BC

• Rights & Duties of Roman Citizens; Definitions of private rights & procedures

• Displayed at the Forum

• Public Display —> safeguarding plebeians

Table III

• Execution of judgment

• enforcement of debt obligations

• financial exploitations

Tables I & II

• addresses court proceedings

Table V, VI, X

• Women

  V. Estates & Guardianship

  VI. Ownership & Possession

  X. Religion

Table VII

• Property

Table VII

• Torts//Injury

Jurist functions

• Legal opinions/advice (to priv. parties)

• Advised magistrates (they were entrusted w/ administration of justice)

• Held high judicial & administrative offices