Judicial Corruption Shown Through Cicero’S Speech in He Trial of Verres.
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- Date Submitted: 09/13/2011 07:20 AM
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Cicero's opening speech in the Trial of Gaius Verres in 70BC was focused on the misgovernment of Gaius Verres as he rose up in the Roman political system to the level of governor, the extortion of 40 million sesterces from Sicilians and his subsequent attempts to corrupt the court system in order to be acquitted and delay the trial. The speech proved to be so effective that Verres’ renowned and very experienced defense attorney Quintus Hortensius Hortalus, refused to respond and suggested to Verres’ that he leave the country. The speech is one of the most important pieces of evidence, and when examined, one can see the immense significance it has in unveiling the deep judicial corruption of Ancient Rome.
Cicero reveals how extensive the corruption was, and how far it had spread, noting that Verres’ case of judicial corruption was common and rampant, stating that ever since the dictator Sulla had arranged for the extortion courts to be entirely composed of members of the senate ten years earlier, no corrupt ruler had been prosecuted. He emphasizes that through bribery and personal favours senators would blatantly acquit each other. However, for this case the presiding judge was Manius Acilius Glabrio, the city praetor, who was one of the most honest judges in ancient rome and he nor his ‘assessors’ were as open to bribery as others were at that time. Verres knew he had a much better chance of being acquitted if he could delay the trial, where in 69 his friend Quintus Caecilius Metellus Caprarius would be the presiding judge. Verres and his defense attempted to postponed the trail through procedural delays, that is, delaying the trial back enough so that there was not enough time be completed before the end of 70 B.C. If he succeeded, his friend Quintus Caecilius Metellus Caprarius will become the new judge and they will gather a new jury after a long public holiday. However, Verres’ attempts failed as Cicero became aware of his intentions and vowed to...
Cicero reveals how extensive the corruption was, and how far it had spread, noting that Verres’ case of judicial corruption was common and rampant, stating that ever since the dictator Sulla had arranged for the extortion courts to be entirely composed of members of the senate ten years earlier, no corrupt ruler had been prosecuted. He emphasizes that through bribery and personal favours senators would blatantly acquit each other. However, for this case the presiding judge was Manius Acilius Glabrio, the city praetor, who was one of the most honest judges in ancient rome and he nor his ‘assessors’ were as open to bribery as others were at that time. Verres knew he had a much better chance of being acquitted if he could delay the trial, where in 69 his friend Quintus Caecilius Metellus Caprarius would be the presiding judge. Verres and his defense attempted to postponed the trail through procedural delays, that is, delaying the trial back enough so that there was not enough time be completed before the end of 70 B.C. If he succeeded, his friend Quintus Caecilius Metellus Caprarius will become the new judge and they will gather a new jury after a long public holiday. However, Verres’ attempts failed as Cicero became aware of his intentions and vowed to...