A legal Maxim, Fiat Justicia ruat caelum, interprets, let justice be done though the heavens fall. Justice is an unshakable entity that influences all sectors of a state - education, economics, religion, and most especially, the legal sphere. Where justice is not served adequately in one sector, it gradually affects the rest of the sectors in a state - hence the phrase, justice for one is justice for all.
By way of definition, justice can be described as conforming to rules without compromise. When there is a structure that supports nothing but what the law is, then justice is not tampered with. Beginning from the legal framework, for justice to be served, the law must have all classes of persons in the society at best interest. The concept of the rule of law, which is the doctrine that no individual is above the law and that everyone is subject to the law, must remain unmoved. Let's uncover the roles of the rule of law in effecting justice in sectors of the state.
In a stratified society, the aim of the law is to ensure that both the elites and the masses can access justice without any blockade. Instances where the poor and vulnerable seek redress in a court but legal services seem expensive, the Legal Aid Council should be readily available for this category of persons and their rights be rewarded accordingly - By doing so, justice is done. The moment the elite class oppresses the poor because they believe the poor have no access to legal aid, justice diminishes at this point. So, justice is not in favour of the rich nor the poor but exists for both the rich and the poor.
Additionally, justice is applicable to the economic sectors. The economic sectors which include the Market forces, price systems, tax bodies and trading activities, are all bound by the law. It is in the place of the law to control the market and other fiscal policies. If a socioeconomic system is socialist, capitalist or mixed economy, it is the law that dictates its activities expressly. The aim is to create room for justice so that economic activities can thrive with ease.
To promote justice, trading activities are bound by the law by way of local or international trade policies, Law of contract and consumer rights. The law oversees trading activities for smooth operation of trade in the country, between countries and between person. When laws like this exist, when dissatisfaction arises in the course of trade, it is easy to seek redress because there are laws that govern trading activities and justice will favour the party that abides by these laws. Therefore, where there is a law, there is justice and when there's justice, growth and development thrive.
It is necessary to fight against jungle justice in society. Members of the society must never take laws into their hands as everyone is subject to the dictates of the law. No individual is allowed to punish another individual for an alleged offence, rather, the law should. The only duty of an individual is to report and in tough cases, power is given to individuals to arrest suspects, while waiting for the arrival of a police officer. No individual is allowed to be punished because that is a clear mark of injustice. Punishment is meant for the dictator and the law is that dictator not man. Even police officers are under the law and the moment they deviate, such is tantamount to disciplinary measures.
For justice to reign, an unbiased judiciary must exist. It is the judiciary that interprets the law and applies the law to the matter at hand. Any party short of the judiciary, involved in administering justice is not allowed. Citizens, the police, the executive and legislature, have nothing to do with administering justice. The independence of the judiciary is paramount and must be fought for because the law, according to the Positivists school of thought, is 'what is' and not what ought to be. When the judiciary is independent of any other arm of government, they will interpret 'what is' the law ; but where the judiciary is dependent, they compromise justice.
For this, we must fight to have an independent judiciary that will speak the law without bias. Justice must be done though the heavens fall. All sectors of the state depend on this justice and so if compromised, then it's to the disadvantage of the state.
In conclusion, our legal systems deserve justice because where I am bereft of my rights, then my state is bereft but where I am rewarded accordingly, then my state is satisfied. Hence the statement, Justice for one is Justice for all!
Below is my July InLeo prompt
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