Legal Definitions - nominis receptio

Nominis Receptio

Nominis receptio is a Latin term originating from ancient Roman law. It refers to the formal act where a presiding judge officially recorded an accused individual's name into the criminal court's official records or rolls. This registration was a crucial procedural step, signifying that the court had formally acknowledged the accusation and that the case was ready to proceed to trial. Without this formal entry, the legal proceedings against the accused could not move forward.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of nominis receptio:

• Imagine a Roman citizen named Lucius is accused of damaging a neighbor's property. After the initial complaint is filed and reviewed, the presiding judge would formally inscribe Lucius's name into the official court ledger designated for criminal cases. This act of recording Lucius's name is the nominis receptio, which formally places his case on the court's docket and allows the trial process to begin.

• Consider a scenario where a high-ranking Roman official, Senator Valerius, is accused of bribery. Before any formal trial proceedings could commence, the judge responsible for overseeing such cases would perform the nominis receptio by entering Senator Valerius's name into the court's official register of accused persons. This formal registration was essential for the court to acknowledge the accusation and schedule subsequent hearings.

• Suppose a soldier, Marcus, is accused of insubordination within the Roman military justice system. The military tribunal's presiding officer, acting in a judicial capacity, would formally record Marcus's name in the tribunal's official rolls of those facing charges. This act of nominis receptio was the necessary administrative step to formally initiate the judicial process against Marcus, allowing the tribunal to proceed with hearing the evidence and rendering a judgment.