Courts of Justice

Have authority from God Ro 13:1-5
SUPERIOR COURT
Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness Ex 18:13-20
Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites De 17:9; Mal 2:7
Presided over by the governor or the high priest De 17:12; Jud 4:4,5
Held at the seat of government De 17:8
Decided on all appeals and difficult cases Ex 18:26; De 1:17; 17:8,9
Decisions of, conclusive De 17:10,11
INFERIOR COURT
In all cities De 16:18; 2Ch 19:5-7
Held at the gates Ge 34:20; De 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4
Judges of, appointed by the governor Ex 18:21,25; De 1:9-15; 2Sa 15:3
All minor cases decided by Ex 18:26; 2Sa 15:4
All transfers of property made before Ge 23:17-20; Ru 4:1,2
Re-established by Jehoshaphat 2Ch 19:5-10
Re-established by Ezra Ezr 7:25
SANHEDRIM OR COURT OF THE SEVENTY
Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses Ex 24:9; Nu 11:16,17,24-30
Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history Lu 22:66; Joh 11:47; Ac 5:27
Consisted of chief priest, &c Mt 26:57,59
Presided over by high priest Mt 26:62-66
Sat in high priest's palace Mt 26:57,58
OF THE ROMANS IN JUDEA
Presided over by the governor or deputy Mt 27:2,11; Ac 18:12
Place of, called the hall of judgment Joh 18:28,33; 19:9
Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or about religion Ac 18:14,15
Could alone award death Joh 18:31
Never examined their own citizens by torture Ac 22:25-29
Appeals from, made to the emperor Ac 25:11; 26:32; 28:19
Generally held in the morning Jer 21:12; Mt 27:1; Lu 22:66; Ac 5:21
Sometimes held in synagogues Mt 10:17; Ac 22:19; 26:11; Jas 2:2
PROVIDED WITH
Judges De 16:18
Officers De 16:18; Mt 5:25
Tormentors or executioners Mt 18:34
JUDGES OF
Called elders De 25:7; 1Sa 16:4
Called magistrates Lu 12:58
Rode often on white asses Jud 5:10
To judge righteously Le 19:15; De 1:6
To judge without respect of persons Ex 23:3,6; Le 19:15; De 1:17; Pr 22:22
To investigate every case De 19:18
Not to take bribes Ex 23:8; De 16:19
To judge as for God 2Ch 19:6,7,9
To decide according to the law Eze 44:24
To promote peace Zec 8:16
Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes Ex 18:13; Jud 5:10; Isa 28:6; Mt 27:19
Examined the parties Ac 24:8
Conferred together before giving judgment Ac 5:34-40; 25:12; 26:30,31
Pronounced the judgment of the court Mt 26:65,66; Lu 23:24; Ac 5:40
Both the accusers and accused required to appear before De 25:1; Ac 25:16
CAUSES IN, WERE OPENED BY
The complainant 1Ki 3:17-21; Ac 16:19-21
An advocate Ac 24:1
THE ACCUSED
Stood before the judge Nu 35:12; Mt 27:11
Permitted to plead their own cause 1Ki 3:22; Ac 24:10; 26:1
Might have advocates Pr 31:8,9; Isa 1:17
Exhorted to confess Jos 7:19
Examined on oath Le 5:1; Mt 26:63
Sometimes examined by torture Ac 22:24,29
Sometimes treated with insult Mt 26:67; Joh 18:22,23; Ac 23:2,3
The evidence of two or more witnesses required in De 17:6; 19:15; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1
Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head before punishment Le 24:14
False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused De 19:19
Corruption and bribery often practised in Isa 10:1; Am 5:12; 8:6
THE JUDGMENT OF
Not given till accused was heard Joh 7:51
Recorded in writing Isa 10:1
Immediately executed De 25:2; Jos 7:25; Mr 15:15-20
Witnesses first to execute De 17:7; Ac 7:58
Allusions to Job 5:4; Ps 127:5; Mt 5:22
Illustrative of the last judgment Mt 19:28; Ro 14:10; 1Co 6:2

The New Topical Text Book, R. A. Torrey (1897). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.