[937] Papinian in Dig. 1, 1, 7, 1 “jus praetorium est, quod praetores introduxerunt adjuvandi vel supplendi vel corrigendi juris civilis gratia propter utilitatem publicam.”
[938] For the edict as the expression of customary law see Cic. de Invent. ii. 22, 67 “Consuetudine autem jus esse putatur id, quod voluntate omnium sine lege vetustas comprobarit.... Quo in genere et alia sunt multa et eorum multo maxima pars, quae praetores edicere consuerunt.”
[939] Cic. in Verr. i. 42, 109 “qui plurimum tribuunt edicto, praetoris edictum legem annuam dicunt esse.”
[940] Ascon. in Cornel. p. 58; Cic. in Verr. i. 44, 114. Perpetuum means “continuous,” tralaticium “transmitted.”
[941] Cic. in Verr. i. 46, 119. Cf. p. 178.
[942] Ascon. in Cornel. p. 58 “Aliam deinde legem Cornelius, ... tulit, ut praetores ex edictis suis perpetuis jus dicerent, quae res ... gratiam ambitiosis praetoribus, qui varie jus dicere assueverant, sustulit.” Cf. Dio Cass. xxxvi. 23.
[943] p. 202.
[944] Cic. in Verr. Act. i. 8, 21; pro Mur. 20, 42. The fullest account that we possess of the distribution of such functions amongst the members of the college refers to the year 66 B.C. (ib. pro Cluent. 53, 147; Ascon. in Cornel. p. 59).
[945] e.g. the lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficis took cognisance of murder, poisoning, and arson, that de falsis of the forgery of documents and of wills as well as of coining.
[946] After the sortitio for 62 B.C. the praetor Q. Metellus Celer was given the province of Cisalpine Gaul (Cic. ad Fam. v. 2, 3, and 4). During his praetorship (63 B.C.) he had been summoned to a command in northern Italy.