"The law is what it is" - Define law as interpreted by the Judge in "Justice".

In Galsworthy's famous problem play, "Justice" Falder is accused of forgery from nine to ninety and Frome is the defence counsel and pleads to the Judge for mercy by bringing in the story of love between Falder and the married woman, Ruth Honeywill and her distress under the torment of her husband. He emphasizes the emotional background under which he has acted this forgery. He says that Falder has done this under the "temporary insanity caused by the violent distress."

                  But the Judge tells Falder about his crime and law before giving the final judgement. He says that, "I have to consider on the one hand the grave nature of your offence, the deliberate way in which you subsequently altered the counterfoil, the danger you caused to an innocent man - and that to my mind is a very grave point - and finally I have to consider the necessity of deterring others from following your example." He then defines law as "a majestic edifice, sheltering all of us, each stone of which rests on another."

             According to the Judge, law is not a cage but a magnificent building that has been erected through ages by the efforts of civilized man. It is a system that shelters all from vices and corruption. Those who violate the rules and principles of civilized life, and thus threaten the order and security of social life and punished by law. The Judge as a custordian of law, has thus the sacred responsibility not only to Falder, 'but to the community', to the administration with right spirit of reason and mortality.

         The Judge through this concepttion of law takes an orthodox conservative view of morality and law. He considers Falder's crime as 'a very serious one' and he does not agree with Frome to release him because it is quite harmful to the society, according to the Judge.