Bible verses about Courts of Justice
(From Torrey's Topical Textbook)

Have authority from God Romans 13:1-5 SUPERIOR COURT Held first by Moses alone in the wilderness Exodus 18:13-20 Consisted subsequently of priests and Levites Deuteronomy 17:9; Malachi 2:7 Presided over by the governor or the high priest Deuteronomy 17:12; Judges 4:4,5 Held at the seat of government Deuteronomy 17:8 Decided on all appeals and difficult cases Exodus 18:26; Deuteronomy 1:17; 17:8,9 Decisions of, conclusive Deuteronomy 17:10,11 INFERIOR COURT In all cities Deuteronomy 16:18; II Chronicles 19:5-7 Held at the gates Genesis 34:20; Deuteronomy 16:18; 21:19; Job 5:4 Judges of, appointed by the governor Exodus 18:21,25; Deuteronomy 1:9-15; II Samuel 15:3 All minor cases decided by Exodus 18:26; II Samuel 15:4 All transfers of property made before Genesis 23:17-20; Ruth 4:1,2 Re-established by Jehoshaphat II Chronicles 19:5-10 Re-established by Ezra Ezra 7:25 SANHEDRIM OR COURT OF THE SEVENTY Probably derived from the seventy elders appointed by Moses Exodus 24:9; Numbers 11:16,17,24-30 Mentioned in the latter part of sacred history Luke 22:66; John 11:47; Acts 5:27 Consisted of chief priest, &c Matthew 26:57,59 Presided over by high priest Matthew 26:62-66 Sat in high priest's palace Matthew 26:57,58 OF THE ROMANS IN JUDEA Presided over by the governor or deputy Matthew 27:2,11; Acts 18:12 Place of, called the hall of judgment John 18:28,33; 19:9 Never interfered in any dispute about minor matters or about religion Acts 18:14,15 Could alone award death John 18:31 Never examined their own citizens by torture Acts 22:25-29 Appeals from, made to the emperor Acts 25:11; 26:32; 28:19 Generally held in the morning Jeremiah 21:12; Matthew 27:1; Luke 22:66; Acts 5:21 Sometimes held in synagogues Matthew 10:17; Acts 22:19; 26:11; James 2:2 PROVIDED WITH Judges Deuteronomy 16:18 Officers Deuteronomy 16:18; Matthew 5:25 Tormentors or executioners Matthew 18:34 JUDGES OF Called elders Deuteronomy 25:7; I Samuel 16:4 Called magistrates Luke 12:58 Rode often on white asses Judges 5:10 To judge righteously Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:6 To judge without respect of persons Exodus 23:3,6; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Proverbs 22:22 To investigate every case Deuteronomy 19:18 Not to take bribes Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19 To judge as for God II Chronicles 19:6,7,9 To decide according to the law Ezekiel 44:24 To promote peace Zechariah 8:16 Sat on the judgment-seat while hearing causes Exodus 18:13; Judges 5:10; Isaiah 28:6; Matthew 27:19 Examined the parties Acts 24:8 Conferred together before giving judgment Acts 5:34-40; 25:12; 26:30,31 Pronounced the judgment of the court Matthew 26:65,66; Luke 23:24; Acts 5:40 Both the accusers and accused required to appear before Deuteronomy 25:1; Acts 25:16 CAUSES IN, WERE OPENED BY The complainant I Kings 3:17-21; Acts 16:19-21 An advocate Acts 24:1 THE ACCUSED Stood before the judge Numbers 35:12; Matthew 27:11 Permitted to plead their own cause I Kings 3:22; Acts 24:10; 26:1 Might have advocates Proverbs 31:8,9; Isaiah 1:17 Exhorted to confess Joshua 7:19 Examined on oath Leviticus 5:1; Matthew 26:63 Sometimes examined by torture Acts 22:24,29 Sometimes treated with insult Matthew 26:67; John 18:22,23; Acts 23:2,3 The evidence of two or more witnesses required in Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; John 8:17; II Corinthians 13:1 Witnesses sometimes laid their hands on the criminal's head before punishment Leviticus 24:14 False witnesses in to receive the punishment of the accused Deuteronomy 19:19 Corruption and bribery often practised in Isaiah 10:1; Amos 5:12; 8:6 THE JUDGMENT OF Not given till accused was heard John 7:51 Recorded in writing Isaiah 10:1 Immediately executed Deuteronomy 25:2; Joshua 7:25; Mark 15:15-20 Witnesses first to execute Deuteronomy 17:7; Acts 7:58 Allusions to Job 5:4; Psalms 127:5; Matthew 5:22 Illustrative of the last judgment Matthew 19:28; Romans 14:10; I Corinthians 6:2