To avoid being judged, don’t judge—that is a rule Irina cannot follow, because she holds a position as a judge. Her job requires making decisions that affect the fates and lives of other people. Often, after a detailed analysis of the situation, everything turns out not to be what it seemed at first glance, and accusations can crumble if you look at them differently. It’s hard to find the truth, especially when higher authorities put pressure on Irina, insisting on verdicts that benefit them.
Lay judges take part in making decisions—people who can both help and hinder, since each process involves a new group.
Irina and her colleagues are all people with complicated life stories and problems, and they need not only to handle others’ cases, but also to solve their own life questions.
The famous Hippocrates once said:
“Life is short, the study is broad, chance is unreliable, experience is deceitful, and judgment is difficult.”
Evidence is rarely completely clear and convincing, and people are not perfect, which makes impartial judgment difficult. Still, the search for justice is necessary despite all obstacles.