EXOD289 Judaism views criminal justice as more than just a ledger of laws. Criminal justice is a process; it's fairness depends on how the laws are ministered, not just on what they state. Thus, judges play a critical role in the Jewish justice system. Moses judged cases even before the revelation of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Later, God directed Moses to appoint judges. (Deut 16:18) People, not God, determine the fate of other human beings. Indeed, perhaps the most crucial aspect of Judaism's approach to the criminal justice system is not the content of its laws, but its insistence that those who participate in the criminal justice system have the integrity and ethics to apply them honestly. To ensure the justice of judicial procedures, Judaism sets forth intricate procedural rules for criminal cases. From the nature of the oath, to what qualifies as evidence, Judaism has constructed criminal procedures that are designed to lead to honest and just verdicts. Consider just a few examples. (Continued at [[EXOD304]] Exodus 18:21 trustworthy OXFORD 481). (By Laurie L. Levenson, "Judaism and Criminal Justice"