Articles
Justice in America
Justice In America
By Mike Willis
A proverb is a short, pithy statement of a general truth. Here are two proverbs about justice:
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 17:15).It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment (Prov. 18:5).
These two proverbs are rooted in the teachings of the Mosaic Law that commanded that human courts issue righteous judgments.
You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor (Lev. 19:15).
You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous (Deut. 16:19).
These principles of equal justice for all are symbolized by the blindfold worn by the lady who represents legal justice. The picture visually displays the aspiration that America’s courts should show partiality to no one—rich or poor, black or white, male or female, Democrat or Republican!
When one standard of judgment is used for judging citizens in one political party and then another standard used for those in an opposing political party, our whole system of justice is undermined. When our policemen treat one group (race, political party, male or female, rich or poor) differently, they threaten our legal system. When a nation’s press corp openly supports one party and opposes the other, their service to our nation as a news source is eroded, compromised, and diminished. For the good of our entire nation (not the good of any one party in this nation), we plead for impartiality in our courts. We ask that our policemen and news media demand impartial justice. There is but a short step from partiality in the courts to a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism.
May God help America to demand that our rulers and judicial officials not to pervert justice (Deut. 16:19). “It is not good to show partiality in judgment” (Prov. 24:23).
