"You shall not favor a poor man in his cause"—Exodus 23:3.
A judge may not have mercy on an indigent litigant and improperly rule in his favor. The judge may not think, "This litigant is poor, and both the rich person [who is suing him] and I are commanded to provide for his sustenance. I will therefore rule in his favor and he will thus have his needs met in an honorable fashion."
Rather, a judge may not differentiate between the wealthy and the destitute, and if the law calls for it, he must find the poor person guilty and require him to pay that which he owes.
