“The law is an ass’’; said Mr. Bumble when he was
told that the law supposes your wife acts under your direction! Truer words
have not been written.
Because the law, according to Mr. Bumble, that body
of regulations that shelters stupidity, pedantry, vindictiveness and sheer
bloody-mindedness business behind the veil of justice, is frequently an ass.
Yet there exists a myth that law is just. In the
face of raw abusive political power of very deep pockets, justice can be ignored!
And it happens all the time.
Yet, there she stands, blindfolded, sword in one
hand, scales in the other.
The scales can swing either way and the sword can
come crushing down.
And why did Mr. Bumble compare the law with an ass?
He clarifies. “And may I add the ass is an animal, a
cross between a horse and a donkey, always male and always sterile. Also
donkeys and ass’s are traditionally considered to be “a little stupid and very
stubborn’’!
Hence the law is an ass as it is frequently stupid.
Yet it is the judiciary that comes to the rescue of
the common man. In addition to its own responsibility the judiciary is also
doing the job of the executive.
This leaves the executive to do the job of the
politician. The politician then, has time and does the job of the criminal.
This gives the criminal time and who has the ability
to do the job of the politician or the executive!
According to Socrates, there are four traits that
should be found in a judge; to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider
soberly and to decide impartially.