Religion & Law

MOJ is a name for Mary, but I did not know until today that it is also the title of a 1271 text by Guglielmus Durandus that became the basis for romano-canonical procedural law. That is, substantive law came in other texts, but procedure was developed in Speculum judiciale (Mirror of Justice).

Durandus studied canon law at Bologna and became a papal auditor (a judge dealing with appeals to Rome). The Speculum was a sort of conglomeration of earlier works, but the material was woven together in a way that made it easy to consult. It had four books:  legal action, civil procedure, criminal procedure, and precedents of pleading. Because of his contribution, later scholars consistently referred to Durandus as "The Speculator."

HT:  Christopher Scaperlanda