Yosef Karo

“ Paragraph 2- If a scholar and ignoramus come to be judged, we have the scholar sit and we tell the ignoramus to sit too. If the ignoramus does not sit, we are not concerned. If a scholar comes to be judged, one may stand up for him and we are not concerned that his adversary claims will be silenced. ”

“ Paragraph 5- A judge is prohibited from listening to one party without his adversary being present. This is only where the judge knows that he will be judging the case. If, however, he hears one of the claims and later the other party accepts him as a judge, he may judge the matter. A scholar may not write a ruling to one of the parties in an “if this is so...” fashion nor should he write his view without a ruling so long as he not heard both parties’ claims because a party may learn to lie based on his words. ”

“ Paragraph 10- A judge should not have mercy on a poor person. He should not say this person is poor while his adversary is rich and is required to support him. I will find for the poor person in this case and he will end up receiving support in an honorable fashion. The judge must not show favor to a great person. If a great, wealthy scholar comes in front of him with a poor simpleton, he should not honor him and ask of his welfare so as not to stifle his adversary’s claims. ”