Negative commandment · Lo Ta’aseh #290 of 613
To not conclude the judgment by estimation
שלא לחתוך הדין באומד הדעת, עד שיראו שני עדים גופו של דבר
The verse · Shemot 23:7
מִדְּבַר־שֶׁקֶר תִּרְחָק וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל־תַּהֲרֹג כִּי לֹא־אַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע
“Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.”
The Rambam’s words
Not to render a decision on the basis of a presumption, unless two witnesses observe the actual matter, as [Exodus 23:7] states: "Do not slay the innocent and the righteous."
שלא לחתוך הדין באומד הדעת, עד שיראו שני עדים גופו של דבר, שנאמר "וְנָקִי וְצַדִּיק אַל תַּהֲרֹג" (שמות כג, ז).
Why · Sefer HaChinuch #82
To not conclude the judgment by estimation
“The root of this commandment is revealed to all, as we have said.”
Who & when
“And [it] is practiced in the Land of Israel by males, since justice is with them, as we have said many times; but not by females, as they do not judge.”
Where in the Mishneh Torah
Hilchot The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within Their Jurisdiction הלכות סנהדרין והעונשין המסורין להם