Does Lady Justice Need a Sword? Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial by Benjamin Perrin

Authors

Noel Semple, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor

Document Type

Book Review

Abstract

LADY JUSTICE CAN OFTEN BE FOUND, in statue form, in or near courthouses. This symbol of the Western justice system is blindfolded to show neutrality. She carries a scale to weigh facts and arguments fairly. Sometimes, she also holds an olive leaf to symbolize mercy and healing. A sword is the other accessory that Lady Justice invariably carries. The sword is a ubiquitous part of this symbol because most people believe that justice in general, and criminal justice in particular, necessarily involves inflicting pain upon wrongdoers.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Citation Information

Semple, Noel. "Does Lady Justice Need a Sword? Indictment: The Criminal Justice System on Trial by Benjamin Perrin." Osgoode Hall Law Journal 61.3 (2025) :
DOI: https://doi.org/10.60082/2817-5069.4076
https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohlj/vol61/iss3/12