The Lady Justice statue ranks as one of the most well known statues in the world. Although, this statue is not typically attributed to any one famous sculptor, the fact that it adorns so many of the world's courthouses makes it one of the more well-known sculptures.

While it goes by many names, the most popular are Lady Justice, Scales of Justice, and Blind Justice. The statue dates it origins from ancient Roman times as the lady represented is Themis, the goddess of justice and law. Well known for her clear sightedness, she typically holds a sword in one hand and scales in the other.

The scales that she holds represent the impartiality with which justice is served and the sword signifies the power that is held by those making the decision. During the 16th century, artists started showing the lady blindfolded to show that justice is not subject to influence. From this, the statue earned the name Blind Justice.

LADY JUSTICE  POEM

alee Lording over the passing crowd, That begs to have an audience,     She poses on her pedestal tower, Locked within her irony stance. Frozen in her milky sheen, She will have the last word on this hour	The cool of her carved marble,               Catches the waves of material,                 Folding back  into the defining drapes, That pretends to mask her body,        From the weathering climate,                     That pushes probings meant to scar and scrape.
Some tear away, advancing, The notions that her ample breasts, Uplifted, contain  milk of human kindness, Smoothed supple by the grinder's wheel, Being polished by the pumice                  Of Petitions that call out to "sign this!"	The Shylocks demand their due, From tipped scales that find a balance, In preserving systems seeped in tender, And the power to disagree,                                 Weighted down with all status quo, Await judgments that mortal men render.
All of Solomon is lost,               As she is blinded by the sight.           Fairness is not echoing in these halls, As heels slide towards left or right,	But to preserve a system, Doomed for failure, when fear begins the call.
There is a chip on her cheek, Or perhaps a tear instead, For the innocent at their own expense, At the hand's of this nation's courts, Weary in misspent logic Of spent energy, time and recompense.	For money is an issue. The system as the final prize. Tipping mighty scales in unbalanced cries, "Taxes must be accounted for And voters to be appeased." Elections matter, Who cares who lives or dies.
copyright 6/2000