Why did Locke think an impartial authority was needed to settle disputes?

In John Locke’s political philosophy, the state of nature is a condition where individuals are free and equal, governed by the law of nature. While this law dictates that no one should harm another’s life, liberty, or possessions, every individual in the state of nature possesses the right to enforce that law and punish offenders.123

Locke argued that an impartial authority is necessary because placing the power to judge and punish in the hands of every individual is inherently problematic. When people act as judges in their own cases, it often leads to bias, injustice, and violence. To remedy this, individuals enter into a social contract to establish a civil society and a government. The primary function of this government is to serve as an impartial power capable of arbitrating disputes, redressing injuries, and ensuring that the law of nature is enforced consistently for the public good.132