For universities, Trump’s punishments far exceed the alleged crimes
Preview:
The adage “let the punishment fit the crime,” articulated by the Roman philosopher Cicero some 2,000 years ago, reflects a principle fundamental to every modern legal system.
The notion of reciprocal justice — “an eye for an eye” and not “two eyes for an eye” — also appears in the Code of Hammurabi and the Book of Exodus. The Magna Carta in 1215 mandated that an offender should be fined “only in proportion to the degree of his offence,” a concept later reflected in the English Bill of Rights, the Common Law tradition and the U.S. Constitution.
Originally published: June 1, 2025
Author: David Wippman
Position: President Emeritus
Institution: Hamilton College
Published by: The Hill