In democratic societies, the legal system arises from a compromise between the interests of majority and minority, and, from this point of view, Law cannot be equated with power. Democracy, in itself, is pluralist and a majority cannot utilize Law as means of abuse. The art of democracy is the art of compromise between the interests of majority and those of minority. This was, alas, one hundred and thirty years ago and is scarcely enforceable in present times. Compromise is a well balanced and self regulated principle of social maturity and justice.
Civil rights are actually the most important issue of the political controversy.
What takes place nowadays in the courtrooms is, indeed, social struggle and social transformation. In the middle of this class struggle the psychiatrist is increasingly exposed to the snares of the courtrooms. There are already enough traps and snares in Psychiatry, where ideas and opinions may greatly differ. It is not easy for the psychiatrist to understand and fully comprehend the winding roads of law. This derives also from the intrinsic difficulty of explaining in easy terms to judges, lawyers and jurors such an entangled matter as psychiatry.