1. Acta in uno judicio non probant in alio nisi inter easdem personas. Things done in one action cannot be taken as evidence in another, unless it is between the same parties.
  2. Actio non datur non damnificato. An action is not given to one who is not injured.
  3. Actore non probante, reus absolvitur. If the plaintiff does not prove his case, the defendant is acquitted.
  4. Actori incumbit onus probandi. The burden of proof rests on the plaintiff.
  5. Actori incumbit (onus) probationis, reus in excipiendo fit actor. The burden of proof weighs on the plaintiff but the defendant in objecting becomes the plaintiff.
  6. Actor qui contra regulam quid adduxit non est audiendus. A pleader ought not to be heard who advances a proposition contrary to the rule (of law).
  7. Actor sequitur forum rei. The plaintiff follows the forum of the defendant.
  8. Ad quaestiones facti non respondent judices; ad quaestiones legis non respondent juratores. Judges do not answer questions of fact; jurors do not answer questions of law.
  9. Ad quaestiones legis judices, et non juratores, respondent. Judges, and not jurors, answer questions of law.
  10. Affirmanti, non neganti, incumbit probatio. The proof is incumbent on the one who affirms, not on the one who denies.
  11. Affirmantis est probare. The person who affirms must prove.
  12. Allegans contraria non est audiendus. A person making contradictory allegations is not to be heard.
  13. Allegans suam turpitudinem non est audiendus. A person alleging his own wrong is not to be heard.
  14. Allegari non debuit quod probatum non relevat. What is not relevant if proved ought not to have been alleged.
  15. Allegatio contra factum non est admittenda. An allegation contrary to the deed (or fact) is not admissible.
  16. Alterius circumventio alii non praebet actionem. A deception practiced on one person does not give a cause of action to another.
  17. Alternativa petitio non est audienda. An alternative petition is not to be heard.
  18. Ambigua responsio contra proferentem est accipienda. An ambiguous answer is to be taken against the party who offers it.
  19. Ambiguis casibus semper praesumitur pro rege. In doubtful cases the presumption is always in favor of the king.
  20. Ambiguitas contra stipulatorem est. A dubious expression is construed against the party using it.
  21. Ambiguitas verborum latens verificatione suppletur; nam quod ex facto oritur ambiguum verificatione facti tollitur. A latent ambiguity in wording is resolved by evidence; for whatever ambiguity arises from an extrinsic fact is resolved by extrinsic evidence.
  22. Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur. A patent ambiguity is not removed by extrinsic evidence (or is never helped by averment).
  23. Ambiguum pactum contra venditorem interpretandum est. An ambiguous agreement is construed against the seller.
  24. Ambiguum placitum interpretari debet contra proferentem. An ambiguous plea ought to be interpreted against the party pleading it.
  25. Auctoritates philosophorum, medicorum et poetarum sunt in causis allegandae et tenendae. The authoritative opinions of philosophers, physicians, and poets are to be adduced and regarded in causes.
  26. Audi alteram partem. Hear the other side. • No one should be condemned unheard.
  27. Audiatur et altera pars. May the other side be heard.
  28. Certa debet esse intentio et narratio et certum fundamentum et certa res quae deducitur in judicium. The design and narration ought to be certain, the foundation certain, and the matter certain that is brought into court to be tried.
  29. Circuitus est evitandus. Circuity (roundabout proceeding) is to be avoided.
  30. Circuitus est evitandus; et boni judicis est lites dirimere, ne lis ex lite oriatur. Circuity is to be avoided; and it is the role of a good judge to determine (or dispose of) litigations so that one lawsuit may not arise from another.
  31. Citatio est de juri naturali. A summons is by natural right.
  32. Citationes non concedantur priusquam exprimatur super qua re fieri debet citatio. Citations should not be granted before it is stated about what matter the citation is to be made.
  33. Cujus est commodum, ejus est onus. The person who has the benefit has also the burden.
  34. Dolus non praesumitur. Fraud (or malice) is not presumed. Cf. Dig. 22.3.18.1 (continuing, “one who alleges fraud … must prove it”).
  35. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat. The burden of the proof rests on the person who affirms, not the one who denies.
  36. In genere quicunque aliquid dicit, sive actor sive reus, necesse est ut probat. In general, whoever alleges anything, whether plaintiff or defendant, must prove it.
  37. In his quae de jure communi omnibus conceduntur, consuetudo alicujus patriae vel loci non est alleganda. In those things that by common right are conceded to all, the custom of a particular country or place is not to be adduced.
  38. In pari delicto potior est conditio defendentis. Where both parties are equally in the wrong, the position of the defendant is the stronger.
  39. In rebus manifestis errat qui auctoritates legum allegat; quia perspicua vera non sunt probanda. A person errs who adduces authorities on the law in matters self-evident; because obvious truths need not be proved.
  40. Is nullam videtur actionem habere cui propter inopiam adversarii inanis actio est. Somebody whose action is pointless because the adversary is judgment-proof. Dig. 4.3.6.
  41. Judex debet judicare secundum allegata et probata. The judge ought to give judgment according to the allegations and the proofs.
  42. Judicis est judicare secundum allegata et probata. It is the proper role of a judge to decide according to the allegations and proofs.
  43. Lite contestata, usurae currunt. When the issue has been joined, interest applies. Dig. 22.1.35.
  44. Nemo allegans suam turpitudinem audiendus est. No one testifying to his own wrong is to be heard as a witness.
  45. Nemo auditur propriam turpitudinem allegans. No one is heard when alleging his own wickedness; no one can be heard whose claim is based on his own disgraceful behavior.
  46. Qui in alterius locum succedunt, iustam habent causam ignorantiae, an id quod peteretur deberetur. Fideiussores quoque non minus quam heredes iustam ignorantiam possunt allegare. Those who succeed to someone else’s position have reasonable grounds for claiming ignorance as to whether what was claimed was owed. Guarantors, no less than heirs, can allege justifiable ignorance. Dig. 50.17.42.
  47. Quod pendet non est pro eo quasi sit. What is pending is not treated as if it already exists. Dig. 50.17.169.1
  48. Ratio potest allegari deficiente lege, sed vera et legalis et non apparens. A reason can be adduced when the law is defective, but it must be a true and legal reason, and not specious (or apparent).
  49. Surplusagium non nocet. Extraneous matter does no harm. • Superfluous allegations, not proper to the case, should have no effect.

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