Read the excerpt from the Twelve Tables.
"1. If the plaintiff summons the defendant to court, the defendant shall go. If the defendant does not go the plaintiff shall call a witness thereto. Only then the plaintiff shall seize the defendant.
2. If the defendant attempts evasion or takes flight the plaintiff shall lay hand on him.”
–adapted from the Twelve Tables
Why did the writers of the Twelve Tables include these sentences?
to encourage the accused to show up in court
to help the plaintiff gather evidence for the trial
to encourage the jury to find the defendant guilty
to make sure that plaintiffs are guaranteed a fair trial
The writers of the Twelve Tables included these sentences to encourage the accused to show up in court.
The writers of the Twelve Tables included these sentences to encourage the accused to show up in court.
The writers of the Twelve Tables included these sentences to encourage the accused to show up in court. In ancient Rome, attending court hearings was a crucial aspect of the legal process. The writers understood that for a fair trial to take place, it was essential for both parties involved to be present. The inclusion of these sentences in the Twelve Tables acted as a legal mandate, making it clear that if the plaintiff summoned the defendant to court, the defendant had an obligation to appear. These laws were designed to ensure that defendants could not avoid their legal responsibilities by evading or fleeing from the trial.
Therefore, the purpose of including these sentences was primarily to encourage the accused to fulfill their legal duty and show up in court. This helped maintain the integrity of the legal system by ensuring that both sides had an opportunity to present their case, allowing for a fair and just resolution.