It is the duty of a judge to inquire as well into the time of things as into things themselves; by inquiring into the time you will be safe.

Explanation

Timing is essential to legal rights — a judge must examine not only what was done but when it was done, for the sequence of events often determines validity.

Where this applies

• The timing of when a document was signed is critical to determining if it's valid.
• A judge needs to determine whether a deed was executed before or after a certain event.