Definition+of+Justice

To Bring Charges Against Someone: There was no public prosecutor. Anybody could start a trial

Tell the person:You have to have a witness, if you want to start a trial, go to someones house bring some witnesses, tell the person involved in the charges you were bringing. then you would tell them a date and time to appear in court were they would have a chance to defend themselves.

Post A Written:you had to write down all the information – the person’s name, your name, the charges, and the date when and location where you are going to trial – and post it near the courthouse.

First Trip To Court: The judge would ask both sides questions. If the judge felt there was enough evidence to have a trial, the date would be set for a court order.

Jury Selection: Juries were paid, not much. To be on a jury, you had to be a citizen over age 30. Juries were selected volunteers. Some juries had as many as 500 people on them, to make sure the jury could not be bribed. Jurors had to swear that they would be fair and would listen to both sides equally. Nobody was guilty until they were voted guilty by the jury. Example: When Socrates was tried, the prosecution’s suggested punishment was death. Socrates suggested punishment was free meals for life. The court gave him another chance to choose a punishment. Socrates suggested his punishment be a cash fine of one piece of silver. Socrates did not leave the jury a lot of choice. Out of the two choices facing the jury – punishment by death or punishment by payment of one piece of silver, the jury voted overwhelming for death. If Socrates had suggested something more severe, the jury probably would have voted for it.