What is vengeance? Reparation or ego? When a wrong is committed and individual is harmed most bring their problems to the legal system in order to seek reimbursement and/or justice. The court’s ruling is enough for the average person. After the hammer falls justice is hashed out. The parties involved may feel slighted, yet they shake hands and go about their lives. What kind of crimes or slights against the social contract opens up the field for DIY justice? Vengeance in this sense is akin to the justice one may receive through the courts, but is rooted in the righteous declaration that the individual righteousness to judge and deal out justice. What gives an individual the right to create justice?



Let’s take a step back and saw off a different chunk. What justifies the authority of a judge in a courtroom? While the judge’s seat might provide her the highest point from which to look into the courtroom, there is nothing intrinsic about this perspective that authenticates that a judge’…