Yosef Karo

“ Paragraph 4 Even though a Court of three judges is a full Court, whenever there are many judges, they are praiseworthy. And it is better that they split the judgment with eleven rather than with ten . It is required that all who sit in the Court of Law must be scholars and fit to do so. It is forbidden for a wise man to sit in judgment until he knows with whom he sits, lest he sit with people who are not suitable for the task and is then found to be included in a council of traitors and not in a Court of Law. ”

“ One who denies anything before the Judges, and subsequently witnesses arrived and refuted him, is not presumed to be a liar . However, regarding the Court which consists of three Judges, although they are not duly ordained — the law is that the admission of indebtedness made in their presence is regarded as one made before a competent Court of Law. ”