The legal system is a myth, and courts are symbols of that myth.
As we see from Chapter 4 (Legal Consciousness), ordinary citizens often stand “before the law” (Ewick and Silbey 1998), believing in law's majestic power without knowing what to expect in the judicial process if they ever participate in litigation.
This mythical character of law is symbolized in many aspects of courts, ranging from the physical structures of court buildings to the robes and gavels that judges use, from ceremonies in religious courts to political slogans in authoritarian courts. Symbols are not merely formalities. They have deep historical roots and cultural meanings. Justice, fairness, equality, consistency, transparency, social stability - all those values and ideologies, and their distorted manifestations in practice, are embodied in the social structure and daily operation of courts. This section uses three excerpts on court judicial iconography, Buddhist courts, and shari'a courts to explore the symbolic aspects of the judicial system.7.1