Vatican Archives Register 6, fol. 72r (Innocent III's Sixth Pontifical Year)

 Fourth Lateran Council c.8

[4 Comp. 5.1.4(X 5.1.24)]

Sources of Canon 8

 

Rights of the Defendant (Iura rei)

Debet igitur esse praesens is, contra quem facienda sit inquisitio, nisi se per contumaciam absentaverit, et exponenda sunt ei illa capitula, de quibus fuerit inquirendum, ut facultatem habeat defendendi se ipsum. Et non solum dicta, sed etiam nomina ipsa testium sunt ei, ut quid et a quo sit dictum appareat, publicanda, nec non exceptiones et replicationes legitimae admittendae, ne per suppressionem nominum infamandi, per exceptionum vero exclusionem deponendi falsum audacia praebeatur.

The person about whom the inquiry is being made ought to be present, unless he absents himself contumaciously.  The list of accusations must be explained to him so that he has the ability to defend himself.  The testimony and the names of witnesses must be presented so that what has been said and by whom will be apparent.  Legitimate exceptions of the defendant and contrary exceptions of the plaintiffs must be heard.  The suppression of the names of witnesses leads to false charges and the exclusion of exceptions leads to false depositions.

Translation based on Norman P. Tanner, Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils (Washington, D.C. 1990) 1.237-239