Institutio Oratoria

Apollodorus again stated that mutual accusation involved two separate disputes, and this is of course in conformity with the practice of the courts, which insists on two separate trials. On the other hand, mutual accusation is possible in cases tried before the senate or the emperor, and even in the courts the fact of mutual accusation will involve

no difference in the pleadings, since the same methods will be required whether the verdict is given on both charges simultaneously or only on one.