613 Mitzvot
The Court and Judicial Procedure
- To appoint judges and officers in every community of Israel (Deut. 16:18)
(affirmative).
- Not to appoint as a judge, a person who is not well versed in the laws of
the Torah, even if he is expert in other branches
of knowledge (Deut. 1:17)
- To adjudicate cases of purchase and sale (Lev. 25:14)
- To judge cases of liability of a paid depositary (Ex. 22:9) (affirmative).
- To adjudicate cases of loss for which a gratuitous borrower is liable (Ex.
22:13-14) (affirmative).
- To adjudicate cases of inheritances (Num. 27:8-11)
- To judge cases of damage caused by an uncovered pit (Ex. 21:33-34)
(affirmative).
- To judge cases of injuries caused by beasts (Ex. 21:35-36) (affirmative).
- To adjudicate cases of damage caused by trespass of cattle (Ex. 22:4)
(affirmative).
- To adjudicate cases of damage caused by fire (Ex. 22:5) (affirmative).
- To adjudicate cases of damage caused by a gratuitous depositary (Ex.
22:6-7) (affirmative).
- To adjudicate other cases between a plaintiff and a defendant (Ex. 22:8)
(affirmative).
- Not to curse a judge (Ex. 22:27)
- That one who possesses evidence shall testify in Court (Lev. 5:1)
(affirmative).
- Not to testify falsely (Ex. 20:13)
- That a witness, who has testified in a capital case, shall not lay down the
law in that particular case (Num. 35:30) (negative).
- That a transgressor shall not testify (Ex. 23:1)
- That the court shall not accept the testimony of a close relative of the
defendant in matters of capital punishment (Deut. 24:16)
- Not to hear one of the parties to a suit in the absence of the other party
(Ex. 23:1)
- To examine witnesses thoroughly (Deut. 13:15) (affirmative).
- Not to decide a case on the evidence of a single witness (Deut. 19:15)
- To give the decision according to the majority, when there is a difference
of opinion among the members of the Sanhedrin as to matters of law (Ex. 23:2)
(affirmative).
- Not to decide, in capital cases, according to the view of the majority,
when those who are for condemnation exceed by one only, those who are for
acquittal (Ex. 23:2) (negative).
- That, in capital cases, one who had argued for acquittal, shall not later
on argue for condemnation (Ex. 23:2) (negative).
- To treat parties in a litigation with equal impartiality (Lev. 19:15)
(affirmative).
- Not to render iniquitous decisions (Lev. 19:15)
- Not to favor a great man when trying a case (Lev. 19:15)
- Not to take a bribe (Ex. 23:8)
- Not to be afraid of a bad man, when trying a case (Deut. 1:17)
- Not to be moved in trying a case, by the poverty of one of the parties (Ex.
23:3; Lev. 19:15)
- Not to pervert the judgment of strangers or orphans (Deut. 24:17)
- Not to pervert the judgment of a sinner (a person poor in fulfillment of
commandments) (Ex. 23:6)
- Not to render a decision on one's personal opinion, but only on the
evidence of two witnesses, who saw what actually occurred (Ex. 23:7)
(negative).
- Not to execute one guilty of a capital offense, before he has stood his
trial (Num. 35:12) (negative).
- To accept the rulings of every Supreme Court in Israel (Deut. 17:11)
(affirmative).
- Not to rebel against the orders of the Court (Deut. 17:11)
