Does Dhp 256-257 condone judging others? In several answers on this site, judging others as judge or jury is looked upon unfavourably, for both lay people and monks. It is often said that the one who passes a guilty or innocent verdict, would carry some karmic consequences.

However, the following quote from the Dhammapada seems to condone the act of judging others.

Is this the right interpretation of these Dhammapada verses or is there another interpretation?

Maybe it's just a metaphor? If so, a metaphor for what?

On the other hand, if this is the correct interpretation, then could these verses be used to endorse the participation of lay Buddhists as judge or jury?

Dhammapada 256-257 as translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:


  To pass judgment hurriedly
  doesn't mean you're a judge.
  The wise one, weighing both
  the right judgment &amp; wrong,
  judges others impartially —
  unhurriedly, in line with the Dhamma,
  guarding the Dhamma,
  guarded by Dhamma,
  intelligent:
  he's called a judge.


Dhammapada 256-257 as translated by Acharya Buddharakkhita:


  
  Not by passing arbitrary judgments does a man become just; a wise man is he who investigates both right and wrong.
  He who does not judge others arbitrarily, but passes judgment impartially according to the truth, that sagacious man is a guardian
  of law and is called just.
Householder Ruben, interested,

Don't confuse judging (discrimination) with acting on (execution of) a judgement.

Right judgement is most important, and of course always approved and encouraged. It's different in relation to acting in certain ways on a judgement, or to believing that ones judgement could change things afterwards.

So one who has the duty to judge others' acts should of course not lie, nor judge improperly out of affection or other reasons, taking side. However, it would be improper to approve harmful acts executed on account of one's judgement (even proper judgement), not to mention if harm occurs on account of improper judgement.

In how far one could act properly in certain circumstances, relying on certain societies with their proper or improper means, would be different from case to case.

Again, there is never any real duty if it violates the basic precepts, either lying or physical harming, depriving... by body, signs or thoughts.

And even a monk would be called to judge cases in their society -- yet the execution on those acts have no physical harming as it's consequence, or does it make what's done undone, but it's to support the further practice and headed to reestablishment in the community.

So these two things -- judging, and acting on a judgement -- should be divided, so that it may not be taken wrongly.

(Note that this is not given for stacks, exchange, trade or entertainment, but as means for doing merits toward release.)