Judicial Discretion in Talmudic Times and the Modern Era

Authors

A. David Pardo, Foley Hoag LLP

Abstract

The article explores the concept of judicial discretion within the Talmud, particularly comparing the approaches of the Palestinian Talmud (Yerushalmi) and the Babylonian Talmud (Bavli). It highlights how the Yerushalmi adheres to a stricter, more unified interpretation of the Halakhah, while the Bavli adopts a more flexible approach, incorporating extralegal considerations and societal context. The analysis demonstrates that these differences reflect broader jurisprudential theories about the role of discretion in legal decision-making.

Disciplines

Common Law | Judges | Jurisprudence | Law

Recommended Citation

A. D. Pardo, Judicial Discretion in Talmudic Times and the Modern Era, 7 Cardozo Pub. L. Pol’y & Ethics J. 429 (2009).
Available at: https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cplpej/vol7/iss2/5