Legal Definitions - Jeddart justice

Jeddart justice refers to a situation where a punishment or a decision is carried out before a proper trial, investigation, or fair hearing has taken place. It describes a reversal of the usual legal order, where judgment and consequences precede the examination of facts and due process.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a company where an employee is accused of a serious policy violation. Instead of conducting an internal investigation, interviewing witnesses, or allowing the employee to present their defense, the management immediately terminates their employment based solely on the initial accusation.

  This is an example of Jeddart justice because the severe consequence (termination) was imposed before any formal process to determine guilt or innocence was completed. The "punishment" came before the "trial."

• Consider a scenario in a small town where a local official is publicly accused of misusing funds. Before any audit is conducted, or any legal charges are filed, the town council votes to remove the official from office and freezes their assets, driven by public outrage and media pressure.

  This illustrates Jeddart justice because significant penalties (removal from office, asset freeze) were applied based on an accusation and public sentiment, without the benefit of a thorough, impartial investigation or a legal process to establish the facts.

• In a fictional historical setting, a ship's captain, upon discovering a sailor suspected of mutiny, immediately orders the sailor to be confined in the brig for the remainder of the voyage and then discharged without pay upon reaching port, without holding any formal inquiry or allowing the sailor to explain their actions.

  This demonstrates Jeddart justice as the severe punishment and professional consequence were meted out instantly based on suspicion, bypassing any form of hearing or investigation that would typically precede such a judgment.