Across criminal, civil, federal, and administrative cases, five timeless principles
emerge with remarkable consistency. These are the revelations that God has used these
trials to teach and to witness:
1. The Public Trust Doctrine
Principle: Government agencies are fiduciaries, not owners.
They must administer public resources for the benefit of the people, not as
revenue-generating enterprises.
Scripture: "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it." — Psalm 24:1
Why it matters: When public servants forget they are stewards,
they become tyrants. The public trust doctrine reminds every agency and officer
that their authority is borrowed from the people and must be used for the people's
benefit.
2. Proportionality in Commerce
Principle: Penalties and fees must be proportional to the offense
and actual costs. A 24-to-1 ratio of fees to tolls is not justice — it is exploitation.
Scripture: "Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length,
weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights." — Leviticus 19:35–36
Revealed in these cases:
- NJTA v. Barber —
$204 in tolls, $4,905 in fees = excessive and punitive
Why it matters: Commerce without conscience becomes predation.
The law must protect citizens from disproportionate penalties that punish poverty
and enrich bureaucracy. This principle applies to toll fees, court costs, and
any government-imposed financial burden.
3. Due Process & Conscience
Principle: Fair process is not a technicality — it is a sacred right.
Due process means notice, opportunity to be heard, and decisions based on evidence,
not assumptions or convenience.
Scripture: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the
rights of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8–9
Why it matters: God's justice is not arbitrary. It requires truth,
transparency, and the opportunity to be heard. When courts deny process, they deny
the image of God in each person — the capacity for reason, response, and redemption.
4. Fiduciary Duty & Good Faith
Principle: Those entrusted with power — whether attorneys, judges,
or public officials — must exercise that power in good faith, serving the interests
of those they are sworn to protect.
Scripture: "Now it is required that those who have been given
a trust must prove faithful." — 1 Corinthians 4:2
Revealed in these cases:
- Barber v. Tumelty —
Attorney's duty to investigate, preserve defenses, and communicate honestly
- NJTA v. Barber —
Public agency's duty to serve, not exploit, the traveling public
Why it matters: Betrayal of trust is not just a legal violation —
it is a moral corruption that undermines the entire system of justice. When those
with power act in bad faith, the vulnerable have nowhere to turn.
5. Stewardship Over Exploitation
Principle: Government exists to serve and steward, not to dominate
and extract. Every law, fee, and enforcement action must be measured against this
foundational purpose.
Scripture: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your
servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." — Mark 10:43–44
Revealed in these cases:
- NJTA v. Barber —
Toll enforcement as stewardship vs. revenue extraction
- All PCR cases —
Criminal justice system must serve rehabilitation, not merely punishment
Why it matters: When government forgets it is a steward, it becomes
a predator. The principle of stewardship demands that every exercise of power be
justified by service to the common good, not by the convenience or profit of the
state.
