Cicero’s opening speech in the “Trial of Verres Essay Sample

displays disrespectful behavior towards his new governor, Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella, subjecting him to mistreatment. The fact that Verres is promoted from Quaestor to Legate reveals that the Roman system supports and allows unethical actions.

Despite not discouraging it, Verres is promoted to a Praetor in Rome and continues his corrupt practices of looting from temples and public buildings. As a Praetor, he takes part in legal cases and unfairly rules against previous precedents. Cicero exposes the significant flaws in the Roman legal system that allow such unjust and biased decisions to go unchecked by higher authorities.

Finally, Verres is appointed as Governor of Sicily, but he leaves the state in a terrible condition. According to Cicero, even a series of capable governors over many years would struggle to partially restore the province. Verres deprived the Sicilians of their rights and treated them cruelly, even going so far as to kill them like slaves.

He stole from farmers and abolished inheritances, diverting funds for his own benefit. He mistreated his allies as if they were enemies, and allowed his harbors to fall into ruin. Cicero enumerates all of his heinous actions.

It reveals that for three years in Sicily, no one opposed or removed him from power, despite his severe misconduct. The occurrence of such impunity in a country, devastating the lives of thousands, is alarming.

The text illustrates that the Roman political system had significant flaws that allowed misconduct to occur. The Verres trial uncovered the lack of restraints and the concentration of power in many places, which resulted in misconduct at the provincial level and eventually led to lawsuits. Corruption in the Roman judiciary was not uncommon, as

Cicero demonstrates. However, he also points out that Verres goes to greater extremes than most suspects and is worse than the average criminal. He begins by strongly warning the judges of the court not to accept bribes, emphasizing that they will face the anger of the people who have already lost faith in the integrity of the Roman Courts. "I have no intention to further contribute to the unpopularity of your order."

On the contrary. I am eager to take your bad repute … and the suspect whom I am prosecuting … provides you with the chance to retrieve the lost prestigiousness of these tribunals.

’ Cicero reveals how rampant the corruptness and graft of the Judgess was. and how far it has spread.He quotes Quintus Calidius stating that ‘… no ex-praetor could be honorably convicted for less than three-million sesterces! ’ Cicero so moves on to the corruptness of Verres’ as an person and how non was he corrupt as a justice when he was governor.

However, in addition to that, Verres' belief in the extreme corruption of the senatorial tribunals is boundless. Cicero records that Verres' initial action, upon discovering he was accused, was to bribe the entire panel of Judges. Consequently, he ended up wasting a significant amount of money on an unsuccessful plan.

Cicero concludes by quoting Verres' famous statement regarding the money he received as governor of Sicily. Verres stated, "...one year's net incomes for my own use, the second year's net incomes for my defenders, and the whole of my third year's...for the judges who try me." Verres not only attempted to corrupt the judges to influence the trial, but he

also obstructed the case preparation and formed alliances with influential individuals. Cicero describes the challenges he encountered while preparing the case and the deceptive tactics Verres used to distract him.

Verres coerced Cicero to shorten his investigations by two years under the pretense of needing to conduct his own investigations in a different country. Furthermore, Verres made an attempt to bribe the date of the trial in order to select and bribe his preferred judges. Cicero later exposes that when Hortensius was elected as consul, an official.

Caius Scribonius Curio met with Verres, indicating that the current elections will result in Verres' acquittal. Cicero exposes Verres' collusion with high-ranking officials to dismiss the case and secure his own freedom, corrupting the tribunals by impeding the path of justice. Cicero discloses various significant details about the extensive prevalence of corruption during that era.

Furthermore, it is stated that suspects have found innovative methods to evade the enforcement of the law. In conclusion, the Trial of Verres serves as a significant resource that not only addresses Verres' involvement in provincial misconduct and corruption, but also sheds light on the extent of such malpractice and the people's abhorrence towards it. Cicero concludes his opening statement by highlighting the connection between corruption in the court system and misconduct in the provinces, emphasizing that if there were no courts specialized in handling cases of extortion.

The belief is that each governor would only take enough for themselves, their households, and their children. However, currently with the current state of the courts, a governor takes adequate amounts for themselves, their defenders, and their advocate.

There is no end to corruption, as it infiltrates every level of

society, including government officials and even judges. The desire to avoid punishment leads governors to increase taxes and embezzle funds, ultimately leading to their own prosecution.