ABSTRACT
As a large city and the heart of an empire, Rome was full of courts. These had an impact not only on individuals involved in the litigation but also on the physical environment of the city, since much of this activity was located in central public areas. During Rome’s normal business days any given number of these courts would be in session, thereby impinging on the daily life of this busy city’s inhabitants; the fora would be crowded with judges, advocates, and litigants from the city, Italy, or beyond, impeding, if not outright thwarting, movement through the public places of Rome and filling these areas with noise and distractions.
