Tacitus writes that Scaurus was "a man of distinguished rank and ability as an advocate, but of infamous life.
Both Scaurus and Quintus Haterius gave speeches of congratulation, which the new emperor suspected of being insincere.
In the year 21, when Corbulo complained on the Senate floor that a young noble, Lucius Sulla,[5] had not shown him respect at a gladiatorial show despite being an ex-praetor, much older and more respected by the older senators, Scaurus, Lucius Arruntius, and other kinsmen of the young Sulla defended him.
[6] The following year Scaurus appears in the Senate joining in the prosecution of Gaius Junius Silanus for extortion while proconsular governor of Asia, sacrilege and violating the law of majestas towards Tiberius.
At the suggestion of his wife Sextia, Mamercus Aemilius Scaurus took his own life; she followed suit shortly after.