Exodus 23:1 "You shall not raise a false report"

When two people have an argument, it is only fair to hear them both.

If a judge only listens to one side of the story, and the other person is not given a chance to give his point of view, will not have a full account of what happened.

This Negative Mitzvah includes another law.

Each side must be able to hear what the other person says, so he will be able to explain and prove his story.

The Torah instructs a judge not to accept a report given in court when the other side is not there to hear it.