talk about lack of originality. the justice system has not changed in the last 2000 years. last week, i've been reading about paul's rough journey from being christ's prosecutor to being christ's ambassador.
paul was brought to different courts to be judged and the process dragged for years. with felix alone, he was kept in custody for two years, then was passed on to festus, and to king agrippa after that. in all cases, the judges always choose the safe choice of not laying the judgement on the accused while seeking to please the majority by keeping the prisoner in check and pass on the responsibility to their successors. and paul, being once a pharisse himself was treated differently (was allowed visitors and to stay at his own rented place) much like our political prisoners at present.
there's also the matter of hiring an orator to speak in behalf of the accusers. talk about the power of speech: kudos or complaint, gossip or truth, it can make or break a man.