Helen Saradi The Byzantine Tribunals: Problems in the Application of Justice and State Policy (9th-12th c.) In: Revue des études byzantines, tome 53, 1995. pp. 165-204. Abstract REB 53 1995 France p. 165-204 Helen Saradi, The Byzantine Tribunals : Problems in the Application of Justice and State Policy (9th-12th c). — In the Byzantine sources judicial corruption is clearly distinguished from the judges' right to bend the law and adapt it to each particular case according to the principle of oikonornia, recognized already by the imperial legislation. According to Justinian's Novels judicial corruption was the result of the judges' insuffi cient training. Justinian treated the problem as an administrative one, since the functionaries were also assuming judicial responsibilities. A definition of judicial corruption in social terms is found only in the Ecloga of Leo III the Isaurian : bribery ; favour to friends ; protection from hostile acts ; fear of the dynatoi. But the legislator placed the problem at the level of Christian morality. Later Leo VI tried to secure the good function of the Byzantine judicial system by imposing temporal and even spiritual punishment. The measures of the emperors of the following centuries were inspired either by Justinian's approach or by that of Leo III. In the Novels of the emperors of the Macedonian dynasty on the preemption right of the poor, judicial corruption is denounced again as a cause of social injustice. Finally, Constantine Monomachos tried to create an incorruptible judicial system by offering the judges high education with the establishment of the school of Law. Influence of the Justinianic Novels has been discerned in this approach. Citer ce document / Cite this document : Saradi Helen. The Byzantine Tribunals: Problems in the Application of Justice and State Policy (9th-12th c.). In: Revue des études byzantines, tome 53, 1995. pp. 165-204. http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rebyz_0766-5598_1995_num_53_1_1904