Julian the Jurist (Ἰουλιανὸς ὁ νομοδιδάσκαλος; Latin: Salvius Julianus) was a prominent Roman jurist of the 2nd century CE. He served under the emperors Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and possibly Marcus Aurelius, holding high offices including consul in 148 CE and governor of Germania Inferior and Hispania Citerior. Julian is often identified as the head of the Sabinian school of jurisprudence [1][2].

His major work is the Digesta (Δίγεστα), a systematic compilation of civil law in 90 books commissioned by Emperor Hadrian. This work consolidated the praetors' edicts into a definitive, final version known as the Edictum Perpetuum [1][2][3].

Julian is considered one of the most influential jurists of the Roman classical period. His Digesta was a foundational text that systematized praetorian law, and his writings were extensively preserved and cited in Justinian's Digest. His opinions carried significant authority, supported by an imperial decree noting their legal force [1][2][3].

Sources 1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Plato.stanford.edu): https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/roman-law/ 2. Encyclopædia Britannica (Britannica.com): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Salvius-Julianus 3. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics (Oxfordre.com): https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3493