Marcus Velleius Paterculus Quotes
Validity was restored to the laws, authority to the courts, and dignity to the Senate
Cleopatra was an outstanding ruler who spoke 9 languages and depended on relatively few advisors.
Velleius, 19 BC – ~31 AD, Marcus Velleius Paterculus, Ancient Roman Historian, Description of the Results of Cleopatra’s Rule of Egypt, Quoted in Smithsonian, December 2010
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
This concept of balance of power and the equal role of the judiciary is actually quite rare. Even in Parliamentary democracies the parliament can override any court interpretation. In England, the upper legislative house, the House of Lords, actually serves as the nation’s highest or supreme court. And these “Law Lords” can override all regular judicial bodies.
Many of our Founding Fathers held the view that the Jurors should decide not only about the facts but also they have the final decision on the law. The concept of the jury not following the judge’s interpretation and instructions as to the law is called Jury Nullification of which many of the founders approved. In modern times however, most states require the jury to accept the judge’s instructions as to the law, and the Jury’s only role is to decide on the facts. Maryland is the only state left which allows the jury to make the final decision on the law as well as the facts. However, many jurors will silently nullify the Judges instructions and vote accordingly as jurors need not explain their reasoning in most jurisdictions. See {641742}, {590841}, {591140} & {591139} for similar views by other Founding Fathers.
Marcus Velleius Paterculus (/vɛˈliːəs, -ˈleɪəs/; c. 19 BC – c. AD 31) was a Roman historian, soldier and senator. His Roman history, written in a highly rhetorical style, covered the period from the end of the Trojan War to AD 30, but is most useful for the period from the death of Caesar in 44 BC to the death of Augustus in AD 14.
