Zbornik Radova: Pravni Fakultet u Novom Sadu (Jan 2015)
The interpretation of law in accordance with the principle of aequitas in Roman law
Abstract
The principle of aequitas allows to take into account circumstances of a particular case, going beyond the strict meaning of the applicable legal norm. Moreover, if these circumstances occur frequently, the principle opens the door for the modification of the norm in question. This paper follows the application of aequitas and its impact on the development of law during the Roman history. We can generally conclude that the application of aequitas in pre-classical Roman law led to breaking off with strict forms of the old ius civile harmonizing the law with the needs of the republican society. This can be attributed to the activities of praetor, pre-classical jurists and judges, and to the introduction of the iudicia bonae fidei. In the classical period, authorized jurisconsults interpreted the law in line with equity, through their responsa or as members of the consilium principis preparing rescripts of the princeps. Although this has been done under the emperor's control, interpreting small, private, everyday legal problems of citizens lead to the development of technical rules of private law. These rules are still valid today. In the post-classical period, given the general crisis of the Roman society, the preservation of the Empire was designated as the public interest (utilitas publica). Under these circumstances post-classical jurists had no longer the possibility to creatively interpret the law. Moreover, starting from Constantine, the issuance and control of equitable implementation of the rescripts was reserved for the emperor, these being referred to the privileges and exemptions from various burdens and obligations. Finally, Justinian proclaimed that the emperor is the only creator and interpreter of the law: 'conditor et interpres legum'. He determined what was equitable following Christian ideology and the interest of the Empire (utilitas publica).
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