The Mexica had a hierarchy of judges, with the Cihuacoatl at the top. The Mexica judges, called tlatlacatechetl, were drawn from the nobility and from the most respected commoners, and they were appointed by the Tlatoani. The judges were trained in the calmecac and in the laws, and they were required to be honest, impartial, and wise.
The Hierarchy of Judges
The Mexica had a hierarchy of judges, with the senior judges at the supreme court of Tenochtitlan, and the junior judges at the lower courts of the calpulli, the military orders, the markets, and the priesthood. The senior judges were drawn from the highest ranks of the nobility, and they were appointed by the Tlatoani. The senior judges heard the most serious cases, including those involving the high officials, the nobility, and the most serious crimes.
The junior judges were drawn from the lesser ranks of the nobility and from the most respected commoners. The junior judges heard the lesser cases, including those involving the residents of the calpulli, the merchants, and the religious offenses. The junior judges had wide authority in their own courts, and they were able to impose a wide range of penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and the confiscation of property.
The Training of the Judges
The Mexica judges were required to undergo a long period of training, and they were required to be familiar with the Mexica laws and procedures. The judges were trained in the calmecac, and they were required to pass a series of tests before they were allowed to serve as judges.
The Mexica judges were also required to be familiar with the codices that recorded the Mexica laws, and they were required to be able to interpret the codices for the benefit of their listeners. The judges were also required to be familiar with the calendar, since many of the legal questions were tied to the calendar.
The Role of the Judges
The Mexica judges shaped the Mexica legal system, and they were responsible for the hearing of the cases and the imposition of the punishments. The judges heard the cases in open court, and they were required to give both parties to the dispute an opportunity to present their case. The judges were also required to follow the procedures of the court, and they were subject to severe penalties if they were found to be corrupt.
The Mexica judges were required to be honest, impartial, and wise, and they were paid for their service. The judges had the power to impose a wide range of penalties, including fines, imprisonment, slavery, and death. The judges were also required to record the decisions in the codices, and the records were used as precedents for future cases.
The Legacy of the Mexica Judges
The Mexica judges shaped the Mexica legal system. The Mexica system of justice has been compared to similar systems in other pre-modern states, including the Roman system of justice and the Islamic system of justice. The Mexica system is particularly notable for its emphasis on the integrity of the judges, and it has been cited as an example of a sophisticated system of justice in a pre-modern state.
The Mexica system of justice has also been studied for its insights into the Mexica understanding of law and order. The Mexica believed that the law was essential for the maintenance of the social order, and they developed a sophisticated system of legal administration. The Mexica system of justice shaped the Mexican legal heritage, and it has been studied by modern scholars as an example of pre-modern legal practice.
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