Lady Justice

For the British judicial office holders, see Lady Justice of Appeal.
"Justitia" redirects here. For other uses, see Justitia (disambiguation).
blindfolded lady with sword in right hand held vertically down to floor, and a set of balance scales in her left hand held neck high
Statue of Lady Justice blindfolded and holding a balance and a sword, outside the Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong

Lady Justice (Latin: Iustitia) is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems.[1][2] Her attributes are scales, a sword and sometimes a blindfold. She often appears as a pair with Prudentia.

Lady Justice originates from the personification of Justice in Ancient Roman art known as Iustitia or Justitia,[3] who is equivalent to the Greek goddess Thémis.[4]

  1. ^ Hamilton, Marci (2005). God vs. the Gavel. Cambridge University Press. p. 296. The symbol of the judicial system, seen in courtrooms throughout the United States, is blindfolded Lady Justice.
  2. ^ Fabri (2000). The challenge of change for judicial systems. IOS Press. p. 137. the judicial system is intended to be apolitical, its symbol being that of a blindfolded Lady Justice holding a balanced scales.
  3. ^ Köhler, W (1961). "IUSTITIA". Enciclopedia dell' Arte Antica (in Italian).
  4. ^ Swatt, Barbara. "(University of Washington School of Law) Themis, Goddess of Justice". Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-07-16.