Black Robe Disease
“Judge not lest ye be judged” is one of my favorite quotes from the Judeo-Christian Bible. At first it sounds like this is a silly thing to say to someone who has a job being a judge in a courtroom. When you stop and think about it, though, this saying has profound meaning for judicial officers.
In my very humble opinion (as a sometimes judicial officer myself) it is extremely important for people acting as judges to keep at the front of their minds the fact that “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
When I act as a lawyer, I am able to delve into the facts of a client’s life in detail (time and budget permitting). I know that I am only skimming the surface of what is really going on. The judicial officer only hears a sliver of each side of any case before being required to make a decision about how to resolve the worst of the worst cases. The easier cases rarely make it to court because they are resolved by agreement.
I don’t believe that it is right for judges to “sit in judgment” on how good or bad other people are. It is a judge’s job to decide what the judge believes the facts to be based upon the evidence and to apply the law to the facts consistent with good public policy. The comments the judge makes should be solely for the purpose of carrying out their duty to decide cases and uphold the integrity of our legal system.
Hopefully, you will never be in the position to have a judge having to make decisions about your life. If you have advice and representation by the right lawyer, the uncertainty of court can be avoided the vast majority of the time. The “preventative medicine” of seeking timely advice from the right lawyer can help you avoid many costly and painful experiences later. At Advantage Denton, we research and find the right lawyer for you. Have us find the right lawyer for you and avoid the risk of unnecessary court.
(Disclaimer: The judges and court commissioners that I work with are wonderful people and highly professional. Though all of us can be reminded from time to time of these high-minded principles, this is not a slam against any of them.)