To judge with justice...

to judge where reason prevails along with impartiality – a justice

personified.
What does it take to judge with justice? Themis, known as Lady Justice today, is the
epitome of the classical conception of impartiality, wherein reason ensures fairness over
emotion. To represent justice like Themis is ideal, but she is a model for striving towards
justice. She is a reminder of the standards of integrity, and I ought to exemplify her and
discover what she entails through symbolism and allegory.
Lady Justice holds a scale, a sword, and wears a blindfold. Each of her symbols bears
powerful lessons. The scale denotes the crucial part of judging- the careful
measurement of evidence. Likewise, the sword indicates constant battle against
injustices, as well as enforcement of justice and its protection. Lastly, the blindfold
represents objectivity and blindness to emotions and external factors that influence man
for one must be impartial to have proper judgment. Claims must be made behind a veil
of ignorance.
Duvlin argues that this classical approach to impartiality has dubious utility in societies
that undergo cultural changes. However, colorblindness to race is not tantamount to
cultural neutrality. Everyone who comes before the law is treated the same regardless
of their racial tones unless a causality between racial identity and a particular case is
present.
Overall, Themis is immortalized as the order of all things, moral, and natural. Her history
tells us that she is the order sought by society, the soul of men. Like her, I ought to be
the Lady Justice of today who exudes impartiality with integrity. I will uphold the truth,
regardless of who tells it. I will uphold justice, regardless of who it is for or against. I
ought to be the embodiment of justice the people who come before the law deserve.
References
Gods, C. (Director). (2020). What Justice Really Means - Judging with a Scale, Sword, and Blindfolds
[Motion Picture].

Sedfrey Candelaria, C. O. (n.d.). Courts and Social Context Theory: Philippine Judicial Reform as Applied
to Vulnerable Sectors. Ateneo Law Journal.