De appellationibus recipiendis vel non
(Concerning the acceptance or rejection of appeals.)
1 Ulpianus libro vicensimo nono ad edictum. Non solent audiri appellantes nisi hi, quorum interest vel quibus mandatum est vel qui negotium alienum gerunt, quod mox ratum habetur. 1Sed et cum mater filii rem sententia eversam animadverteret, provocaverit, pietati dandum est et hanc audiri debere: et si litem praeparandam curare maluerit, intercedere non videtur, licet ab initio defendere non potest.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXIX. Appellants are not usually heard unless they have an interest in the suit, or have been commissioned to act, or are conducting the business of others, and their acts are ratified immediately. 1When, however, a mother sees the case of her son overthrown by a decision, and, induced by maternal affection, appeals, it must be said that she should be heard; and if she prefers to prepare the case, she should not be considered to have interfered, although in the beginning she could not have undertaken the defence.
2 Scaevola libro quarto regularum. Ante sententiam appellari potest, si quaestionem in civili negotio habendam iudex interlocutus sit, vel in criminali, si contra leges hoc faciat.
2 Scævola, Rules, Book IV. An appeal can be taken before final judgment, if a judge has rendered an interlocutory decree for the purpose of applying torture in a civil case, or in a criminal case, if he does this contrary to law.
3 Paulus libro singulari regularum. Intra triduum appellare licet ei, qui de suspecto tutore egit victusque appellat.
3 Paulus, Rules. He who institutes proceedings against a suspected guardian can appeal within three days if he should be defeated.
4 Macer libro primo de appellationibus. Eius, qui ideo causam agere frustratur, quod dicit se libellum principi dedisse et sacrum rescriptum expectare, audiri desiderium prohibetur: et si ob eam causam provocaverit, appellatio eius recipi sacris constitutionibus vetatur.
4 Macer, Appeals, Book I. He should not be heard who attempts to cause delay in a suit in which he alleges in reply that he has presented a petition to the Emperor, and is waiting for the issue of the Rescript, and, if he takes an appeal on this ground, the Imperial Constitutions forbid it to be received.
5 Ulpianus libro quarto de appellationibus. Ei, cuius appellatio non recipitur, sufficit, si possit dicere appellationem suam non esse receptam: quod quaqua ratione doceat, admittetur eius appellatio. 1Non recepta autem appellatione, si quidem principem appellari oportuit, principi erit supplicandum: sin vero alius appellabatur quam princeps, ille erit adeundus. 2Sed et si quid aliud post receptam appellationem impedimento factum fuerit, eum adire oportet, quem appellare quis debet. 3Plane si appellatione non recepta non ipsum adierit, quem debuit, sed principem, pro eo habebitur, atque si is aditus est, qui adiri debuit: idque rescriptis imperatoris nostri Antonini declaratur. 4Plane si alium pro alio adiit non principem, nihil ei hic error proderit, licet non videatur cessasse. 5Intra constituta autem appellatoria tempora debet is, cuius appellatio non est recepta, vel competentem iudicem vel principem adire.
5 Ulpianus, On Appeals, Book IV. It is sufficient for him whose appeal is not received merely to state this fact, and in whatever way he does so, his appeal will be admitted. 1When an appeal is not received, and it becomes necessary to appeal to the Emperor, a petition should be presented to him. If, howr ever, an appeal should be taken to anyone but the Emperor, the former must be applied to. 2Where, after the appeal has been received, any impediment is interposed, he must be applied to before whom the litigant wishes to bring the appeal. 3It is clear that if the appeal should not be received, and the appellant did not apply to the proper official, but to the Emperor, it will be the same as if he had gone before the magistrate whom he should have applied to; and this is stated in different Rescripts of our Emperor Antoninus. 4It is also evident that if a party litigant has appealed to one magistrate instead of another, and not to the Emperor, this mistake will be of no advantage to him, although he will not be considered to have failed to appeal. 5During the time prescribed for taking an appeal, the party whose appeal was not accepted can either apply to a competent judge, or to the Emperor.
6 Macer libro secundo de appellationibus. Sciendum est, cum appellatio non recipitur, praecipi sacris constitutionibus omnia in eodem statu esse nec quicquam novari, etiamsi contra fiscum appellatum sit: eumque, qui appellationem non receperit, opinionem suam confestim per relationem manifestare et causam, pro qua non recepit appellationem, eiusque exemplum litigatori edere debere mandatis cavetur.
6 Macer, On Appeals, Book II. It must be remembered that, when an appeal is rejected, it has been decided by the Imperial Constitutions that everything must remain in the same condition, and nothing new be done, even if the appeal is taken against the Treasury; and he who refuses to receive the appeal must immediately make a report giving his opinion, and the reason for its rejection; and it is provided by the Imperial Mandates that he shall furnish the litigant with a copy of his report.
7 Paulus libro singulari de appellationibus. Si res dilationem non recipiat, non permittitur appellare, velut ne testamentum aperiatur (ut divus Hadrianus constituit), ne frumentum in usum militum, in annonae subsidia contrahatur, neve scriptus heres in possessionem inducatur. 1Item si ex perpetuo edicto aliquid decernatur, id quo minus fiat, non permittitur appellare. 2Item quo minus pignus vendere liceat, appellari non potest.
7 Paulus, On Appeals. If the matter does not admit of delay, it is not permitted to appeal to prevent the opening of a will, as the Divine Hadrian decided that grain collected for the use of soldiers should not be used for the sustenance of the public, and that an appointed heir should not be placed in possession. 1Again, if anything has been decided in accordance with the Perpetual Edict, an appeal cannot be taken to prevent its being carried into effect. 2In like manner, an appeal cannot be taken to prevent the sale of a pledge.