Justice and Injustice

The story concerns the administration of justice in a penal colony. A time has recently passed when the operation of the colony's judicial system received popular support and approval. But this approval was gained by the popularity of the architect of the justice system and the execution machine, the Commandant. The new Commandant shows no enthusiasm for his predecessor's social order. Rather than trying to actively reform the system, it appears he is hoping to change things through benign neglect. In the meantime the old judicial system still operates, thanks to the dedication of the old Commandant's assistant, an officer who sees it as his duty to preserve the machine which inflicts the same fatal punishment on all who are charged, regardless of their crime. The colony's judicial system does not recognize the concept of injustice. Prisoners are not allowed to defend themselves. They are accused...