Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. It is unlawful for a judge to pass sentence upon anyonewho is not subject to his jurisdiction, whether this beordinary jurisdiction (belonging to his station andoffice) or delegated jurisdiction imparted to the judgeextraordinarily by competent public authority.
2. A judge in a court of law does not pronounce sentencein accordance with what he, as an individual, thinks, or evenknows; he passes sentence according to the evidence brought beforehim. Of course, a judge may use his private knowledge to guide himin insisting on a rigorous sifting, and re-examination, ofevidence, when he knows that justice is about to miscarry. But ifhe cannot so reject the faulty evidence, he must follow it inpronouncing sentence.
3. No judge can sentence a man who is not accused, for ajudge exercises his proper office in interpreting the way ofjustice between two parties, accused and accuser. Scripture (Acts25:16) indicates this fact in these words: "It is not thecustom of the Romans to condemn any man, before that he who isaccused have his accusers present, and have liberty to make hisanswer, to clear himself of the things laid to hischarge."
4. The judge passes judicial sentence. Once delivered,this sentence passes from the lawful power of the judge whopronounced it. The judge is not capable of revoking the sentence orremitting the penalty it has imposed. Such remission may be made bya higher court, and especially by the highest court in a country,if thereby no injury is done to the accuser (whose cause was provedand decided) or to the common good. Of course, in things that liewithin the power of the judge's discretion, and are not amatter of law applied by judicial sentence, there is room for thejudge to exercise mercy.
"Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor. No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens.
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St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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"A single act of uniformity with the divine will suffices to make a saint."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars."
Thomas á Kempis
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