the chief judge in charge of the egyptian law courts was known as “the priest of ma’at.” he began court hearings wearing the feather of ma’at. the person that won his case got to have the feather of ma’at. the guilty party had violated ma’at, and it was assumed that he or she would suffer failure, poverty, sickness, blindness and deafness, with the final judgment waiting in the court of the dead. tomb robbery was considered one of the most heinous crimes, and might involve 100 strokes of a cane, five bleeding cuts added or brands as a sign of permanent dishonor. often, the entire family of the guilty suffered as well. for example; when individuals were sentenced into exile, their children were automatically outlawed with them. ma’at represented truth, order, balance and justice in the universe. this concept said that everyone, not including slaves, should be viewed as equals under the law. the king made sure that was carried out, and he/she would decide the case and the proper justice, maybe asking his viziers who often acted as judges. even the lowliest fisherman was allowed to bring a legal case to the viziers.