Common Catch Phrases #2

Justice is Blind

We have discovered that the early pharoahs in Egypt were concerned with the administration of justice. Although Egyptian trials were crude, as one might expect, but they might also have been superior to a modern courtroom with a particular distinction. In an attempt to avoid passion and prejudice, cases were tried in dark chambers. The Egyptians believed that when all the people involved in the trial - the prisoners, the lawyers, the witnesses and the judge - could not see each other, the judge would only be influenced by the facts alone. Thus his judgment would be impartial. However, many who use this phrase today do so ironically, pointing out travesties in our judicial system.

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REFERENCES: The above description is paraphrased from the book "Common Phrases and Where They Come From", Myron Korach & John B. Mordock, 2001, The Lyons Press, Page 50.