This is the only positive commandment of the Seven. It is expounded as refering to establishing courts of law that will carry out justice and maintain human righteousness and morality according to the Seven Laws. This commandment makes it illegal to live in a community in which there are no courts of law or to establish a court of law that decides cases contrary to the Seven Universal Laws. If one lives in such a community and does nothing to rectify the situation, he is considered liable.

    Similarly, one is forbidden to render a judgement himself and thus take the law into his own hands, such as vigilante justice. One is required to abide by the court of law. As long as the court rendered the decision according to the Seven Laws, then one must abide by its judgement.

    The Children of Noah are responsible for knowing the Seven Universal Laws, and ignorance of them is no excuse for breaking them. A court of law is forbidden from taking mercy on a murderer, saying, "One person has already died, what use is there in killing another?"  Justice must be carried out even if the murderer is penetant.

    A case concerning a large sum of money and a case concerning a small sum of money should be given equal and individual attention.  A judge must be completely impartial in his judgements, showing no favoritism to either party. Judges are forbidden from taking bribes, and any case ruled upon by a judge who has taken a bribe is corrupt.

    There are many individual laws in this section, yet the main thrust of them all is that all rulings should be heard and dealt with honestly and justly, and a judge must be a person of impeccable moral character. For more information on this and all of the Seven Universal Laws, please see our recommended reading list.