Aitzaz Ahsan Says Judges Can Develop a ‘God-Like’ Mindset Due to Courtroom Culture
Lahore: Senior lawyer and renowned legal expert Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan has offered a critical perspective on the psychology of judges in Pakistan’s higher judiciary, arguing that the culture inside courtrooms can gradually foster a sense of unquestioned authority.
Speaking during a podcast with journalist Mansoor Ali Khan, Aitzaz Ahsan remarked that when a person is appointed as a judge of the High Court or Supreme Court, “they remain an ordinary human being for about six months, after which they become a ‘God-like’ figure”—a metaphorical comment referring to the influence of courtroom culture.
Explaining his point, Ahsan said that judges spend several hours each working day hearing arguments from highly educated lawyers who address them with great deference, repeatedly using honorifics such as “My Lord.” He argued that this environment can gradually affect a judge’s perception of authority.
ایک انسان جب جج بن جائے تو چھ مہینے تک انسان رہتا ہے پھر وہ خداوند بن جاتا ہے۔
روز جب کئی گھنٹے تک آپ کو سارے پڑھے لکھے لوگ مائی لارڈ مائی لارڈ میرے خداوند کہیں تو پھر۔۔ اعتزاز احسن pic.twitter.com/PqniKlQtIM— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) July 12, 2026
The senior lawyer further stated that, in his view, many advocates hesitate to openly tell a judge that they are mistaken, even when they disagree with a ruling or observation. Instead, he said, lawyers often respond respectfully by suggesting they may not have explained their own arguments clearly enough.
Aitzaz Ahsan’s remarks were made as part of a broader discussion on judicial conduct, courtroom culture, and the relationship between judges and lawyers in Pakistan’s legal system.
