To the Jurors
February 3
(From the Pandok:* “On Not Showing Partiality Toward People”)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
February 3
(From the Pandok:* “On Not Showing Partiality Toward People”)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
To some of you, brethren, the fate of the accused is entrusted, and it depends on you whether to acquit or to condemn this or that person. This duty, in our opinion, is very burdensome. For how is one to condemn the guilty when that guilty person has circumstances that speak in his favor? And how is one to acquit another when nothing good can be expected of him in the future? What is to be done in such cases?
In one of the readings in the Pandok titled “On Not Showing Partiality Toward People,” it is said: “Both partiality and man-pleasing are evil, and we must shun both. The words of hypocrites are crafty and false and often produce unrest… The rich man brings many friends to court, but the poor man loses even his last friend… We ought not to act this way, but must be just… and must snatch the poor out of the hands of the sinful and deliver them from them… It is not good to be double-minded in judgment and partial. ‘Judge not by appearances,’ says the Apostle James. ‘For if a man comes into the court wearing a gold ring on his hand and fine clothing on his shoulders, and a poor man also enters in shabby clothes, do not prefer the former to the latter; otherwise sin will be upon you, and you will condemn yourselves as transgressors of the law. And do not turn aside from justice in judgment, and do not defend the wicked. He who justifies such a one becomes hated by people, but he who exposes him does well, and a blessing will come upon him.’ And the Lord Himself, to teach us impartiality, when someone said to Him, ‘Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You,’ answered: ‘Whoever does the will of My Father is My brother and sister and mother.’”
Thus, this is how judges must be when they are required to say: yes or no. First of all, they must remember that mercy triumphs in judgment and, as far as possible and as far as conscience allows, be merciful to the accused. What can one do? We are all human beings, not angels, and error is natural to all of us. “I know,” says the Apostle, “that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Rom. 7:18). Yet at the same time, as we have heard in the reading, judges must also be impartial, truthful, and judge without regard to appearances. This too is necessary for judges, for acquittal of the accused is not always praiseworthy: through unjust acquittals the truly innocent may suffer, lawlessness may increase, and truth on earth may diminish. All this must certainly be foreseen by judges, and they must be especially cautious when pronouncing their verdicts.
Is this difficult? If so, then let judges turn to God for enlightenment, and without doubt, in difficult circumstances He will show them what must be done and will direct them onto the true path. Amen.
* 'Pandok' is an old Russian book containing teachings, folk tales, etc. usually associated with the Old Believers.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
