De officio praetorum
(Concerning the Office of the Prætors.)
1 Ulpianus libro vicensimo sexto ad Sabinum. Apud filium familias praetorem potest pater eius manumittere.
1 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXVI. A father can manumit before a son who is under his control, if the son is a Prætor.
2 Paulus libro quarto ad Sabinum. Sed etiam ipsum apud se emancipari vel in adoptionem dari placet.
2 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book IV. It is also settled that he himself can be emancipated or give in adoption in his own tribunal.
3 Ulpianus libro trigensimo octavo ad Sabinum. Barbarius Philippus cum servus fugitivus esset, Romae praeturam petiit et praetor designatus est. sed nihil ei servitutem obstetisse ait Pomponius, quasi praetor non fuerit: atquin verum est praetura eum functum. et tamen videamus: si servus quamdiu latuit, dignitate praetoria functus sit, quid dicemus? quae edixit, quae decrevit, nullius fore momenti? an fore propter utilitatem eorum, qui apud eum egerunt vel lege vel quo alio iure? et verum puto nihil eorum reprobari: hoc enim humanius est: cum etiam potuit populus Romanus servo decernere hanc potestatem, sed et si scisset servum esse, liberum effecisset. quod ius multo magis in imperatore observandum est.
3 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXVIII. Barbarus Philippus, a fugitive slave, sought the prætorship of Rome, and was appointed Prætor. Pomponius is of the opinion that his condition as a slave was no obstacle to his holding the office of Prætor. It is true that he performed the duties of that office, still, let us consider the case of a slave having kept his condition secret for a long time, while he discharged his duty as Prætor. Will all that he decided or decreed be of no force or effect? What shall We say? Or will it be valid on account of the welfare of those who instituted proceedings before him either under the law, or by virtue of some other legal right? Indeed, I think that none of these things should be rejected; for this is the more humane view to take, since the Roman people had the power to invest a slave with this authority, and if they had known that he was such they would have granted him his freedom. Much more must this right be considered well founded with respect to the Emperor.
4 Idem libro primo de omnibus tribunalibus. Praetor neque tutorem neque specialem iudicem ipse se dare potest.
4 The Same, On All Tribunals, Book I. A Prætor cannot appoint himself a guardian, or a judge in any special proceeding.