Page "Athenian democracy" Paragraph 24

Athens had an elaborate legal system centered on full citizen rights ( see atimia ).

The age limit, the same as that for office holders but ten years older than that required for participation in the assembly, gave the courts a certain standing in relation to the assembly ; for the Athenians of the court were not only older, but were wiser, too.

Jurors were required to be under oath, which was not required for attendance at the assembly.

The authority exercised by the courts had the same basis as that of the assembly: both were regarded as expressing the direct will of the people.

Unlike office holders ( magistrates ) who could be impeached and prosecuted for misconduct, the jurors could not be censured, for they, in effect, were the people and no authority could be higher than that.

A corollary of this was that, at least in words spoken by the jurors, if a court had made an unjust decision, it must have been because it had been misled by a litigant.