The 278th prohibition is that a judge is forbidden from tilting judgment against one of the litigants whom he knows to be a wicked transgressor. G‑d (exalted be He), prohibits punishing him by ignoring his merits.1
The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "Do not pervert justice against a poor person in his lawsuit."
The Mechilta3 says, "If a wicked man and an honest man stand before him in judgment, he should not say, 'Since he is wicked, I will rule against him.' The Torah therefore says, 'Do not pervert justice against a poor person in his lawsuit,' referring to someone who is 'poor' in mitzvos." This means that although he is "poor" in mitzvos, one should not tilt the judgment against him.
