Jeddart justice
law
Quick Summary
"Jeddart justice," also known as "Jedburgh justice," refers to a form of justice where punishment is administered before a trial takes place. This practice is essentially synonymous with lynch law, involving either wholesale punishment or acquittal.1
The term originates from the Scottish town of Jedburgh, historically known for a 17th-century incident where a group of marauders was summarily executed. This led to the proverbial saying that in Jedburgh, a man was hanged first and tried afterward.23
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