Ever Wondered Why Judges Break The Nib Of Their Pen After Passing A Death Sentence?

Ever Wondered Why Judges Break The Nib Of Their Pen After Passing A Death Sentence?

1)

The practice is symbolic of the belief that a pen which is used to take away a person’s life should not be used ever again for other purposes. In other words, the pen has ‘tasted blood’, and thus it needs to be broken so that it doesn’t take another life.

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2)

Also, after the judge passes the death sentence, he has no power to review or revoke his order. So once the sentence has been awarded and the judge’s signature inked, the nib is also broken, symbolic of the fact that the judge cannot cancel or rewrite the judgement if he/she has a change of heart or mind.

3)

As an old saying goes:

“The death sentence is a sad, but sometimes necessary thing and breaking the pen used to carry it out, expresses that sorrow.”

So, Judges simply do away with the ‘tainted’ pen (having ordered the death of a person) as a way of distancing himself/herself from the judgement and the guilt of the same.

Source: Inuth.com , Ink pen , ఉరి శిక్ష... పాళీ....