Justice Denied! When Courts Are Corrupted

Jesus before Caiphas: the Illegal Trial and Sentence

Let's present a hypothetical trial situation. You're selected for a jury and seated. In your lap is your notebook and pen because you are determined to be a responsible citizen who listens carefully and judges fairly. (Yes, you are called to judge the facts and conclude whether the defendant is guilty or innocent.)

The prosecutor gets up and gives his opening statement outlining how he will prove the guilt of the defendant in the dock. He presents the case from the prosecution's point of view, of course. Are all the facts accurate? Is the case biased? Is everyone involved in the prosecution honest? That's what you will have to decide.

When the prosecutor finishes, the defense lawyer rises and begins to make his opening statement. However, the judge stops him and tells him to sit down, because the jury doesn't need to hear what he has to say. The lawyer tries to argue and is threatened with contempt of court, so he sits down and shuts up.

The prosecutor begins to call witness after witness to state the case against the accused. Whenever the defense tries to question a witness, he is stopped by the judge and the witness is dismissed. When the prosecution rests and the defendant's lawyer gets up to present his side of the case, the judge once again silences him. He turns to the jury and tells them they have all the information they need to make a decision about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. 

"But, Your Honor," you say, "we've only heard one side of the case. You haven't let the defendant give his evidence. How can we make a fair decision?" 

The judge looks at you in anger. 

"If you say one more word, you will be charged with contempt." He then instructs the jury to deliberate where they are after telling them the defendant is clearly guilty.

What do you do?

I presented this as a hypothetical situation, but its been repeated numerous times throughout history. Judge Roland Freisler's kangaroo court trials in Nazi Germany were notorious. Defendants were tortured and humiliated before entering the courtroom. The students of the White Rose movement in Germany who distributed flyers calling for passive resistance were given a show trial and executed. If you haven't seen the film about Sophie Scholl, I recommend it, but it's not for the faint of heart. Here is a clip from the movie showing Freisler questioning Sophie's brother, Hans. The portrait of the fanatical judge is true to life. If you look Freisler up and watch clips from his trials, you hear him screaming at the defendants, calling them names, and refusing to let them speak. He died during an allied bombing raid when a bomb hit the courthouse. A column crushed him and then the entire courthouse roof fell on him. Poetic justice?

Russia's show trials under Stalin were notorious. He purged anyone who disagreed with him or became a threat to his power. It didn't matter if they were friends, Stalin exercised ruthless control.

And, of course, anyone who has seen the film, A Man for All Seasons will remember the scene where the jury is to be excused to deliberate only to be stopped by Cromwell and asked to give their verdict without considering the evidence. None of the jurors consult one another. Their verdict was a foregone conclusion from the start. Give the king what he wants. The foreman rises and pronounces Thomas More guilty.

But the most unjust trial of all was that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The religious leaders were determined to kill Him and broke every rule in the book about Jewish trials. Jesus was arrested secretly at night and tried immediately. Trials were required to be held during the day by Jewish law with the accused given time to bring witnesses. Jesus was allowed no witnesses. The vote on the verdict in the Sanhedrin was supposed to begin with the least important member, but the Chief Priest, tore his robes and declared Jesus guilty first and demanded agreement. "What need have we of witnesses?" The sentence against Jesus was pronounced where it was forbidden, in the house of Caiphas, rather than in a court of law. When Jesus was presented before Pilate the charge changed from blasphemy to treason. From start to finish Jesus was tried in a kangaroo court by His enemies with one goal, the murder of an innocent man, the murder of God.

The past is prologue to the future. We're all aware of the show trials going on in the U.S. with Soros-funded prosecutors. Donald Trump is just one of their victims. Pro-life rescuers and the January 6ers have also felt the hobnailed boot of political persecution using the "justice" system as a weapon. We can expect plenty more of it if Harris and Walz win in November. 

The inevitable thing about corruption is that the people who think they are in control and immune from the injustices they impose on others often end up badly. Robespierre and other authors of the Reign of Terror in France lost their own heads under the blade of the guillotine. Thomas Cromwell who framed St. Thomas More was executed by order of the king he served so corruptly. Even those who appear unscathed have to meet the Lord where they will receive the sentence they deserve.

Justice is one of the cardinal virtues and one that every Catholic should strive for. May we all pray, like Solomon did, for an understanding heart that we might judge rightly. Since we all want that for ourselves it is the obedient response to the command to love our neighbor as ourself.

May Jesus Christ be praised!