Extraordinary importance of judgment
I should first say in general terms that judgment is a very crucial question. You judges have a very perilous task. If you consider the traditions, you will see how difficult matter it is. You deal with the reputation, lives, and the property of the people. If God forbid, you do not judge carefully and efficiently, you are religiously responsible for the matter itself you are judges, in the Islamic Republic. Islamic Republic may put it in danger, defacing it. You know that different people with evil grudges are planning now to damage the image of IRI. One-way to do this is through the courts. If God forbid courts commit an offence, this will not only damage the IRI but also Islam. If the damage was inflicted on people, no matter however wrong it is. You may present a bright image of Islam as it is or, God forbid, misrepresent it….
Independence of judge in judging
You know how significant judgment is at the beginning. You deal with things on which the reputation of the people hinges and you should judge cautiously and strongly.
A criminal should be punished and no recommendation should be accepted from anyone. I have said repeatedly that if anyone receives a letter of recommendation on behalf of me, my office or those who are related to me, hit it to the wall. The judge should be under the influence of no one and should be free and judge freely, paying attention to no recommendation. If there is a just recommendation, then you must of course examine it. Supposing that there is no recommendation, you should investigate the case. But if God forbid, there is an unjust recommendation, you should not pay attention to it. The judge is in any case an independent person who should comment on the case he, but should know that God witnesses his actions too. You may disgrace a Muslim or administer rights with the pen you hold in your hand, so you should be careful that God is Omnipresent and Omniscient.
Sahifeh, vol. 10, Page: 192 - 193
Date: October 12, 1979 11: 30 p. m. [Mehr 20, 1358 AHS/ Dhou'l-Qa`dah 20, 1399 AH]