Lying and Justice - Coursework Example

Lying and Justice The truth is the basis of justice, and warrants search according to law because facts are contested. Justice cannot exist without the truth. In law, the truth requires search in order to discover it. In effect, truth implies objective and reliable facts are admissible as evidence during a trial. Ho (2008) argues that the testimony of witnesses is subjective and unreliable way to discovering the truth. Hence, the testimony in legal proceedings is deemed half-truths, and cannot serve justice.

In essence, the justice based on the witness is arguably haphazard. The justice system depends on the truth that has to be subjected to a legal search. In contrast, lying is a grave violation of the justice. Legally, lying is one form of obstruction of justice. Anyone who lies to the authorities upon questioning during the investigation of the criminal activities is liable to obstruction of justice. Liars violate the social justice. The people who give false information to the court or the investigators are liable for perjury.

Perjury is a serious crime because the trust and credibility are significant foundations of the justice system (Ho, 2008). In essence, lying is a crime against justice, and the violator compromises grand juries, public officials, the authority of court systems, and governing bodies. The jury can detect the element of lies when the testimony conflicts directly with verifiable information. In cases where the witnesses might unintentionally offer falsehoods in good faith, the prosecutors must prove the intention to mislead the justice system.

The inveterate liars violate the virtue of justice. Justice is overwhelming virtue of societies and individuals. Thus, the liars contravene the virtue of justice. ReferenceHo, H. L. (2008). A philosophy of evidence law: Justice in the search for truth. Oxford: Oxford University Press.