Legal Definitions - substantial justice

Substantial justice means fair and proper administration of laws. It is the justice that is administered according to the rules of substantive law, regardless of any procedural errors that do not affect the litigant's substantive rights. It is a fair trialon the merits.

• If a person is accused of a crime, they have the right to a fair trial where the evidence is presented and evaluated. If the trial is conducted fairly and the verdict is based on the evidence presented, then substantial justice has been served.
• Similarly, if a person is involved in a civil lawsuit, they have the right to a fair trial where the evidence is presented and evaluated. If the trial is conducted fairly and the verdict is based on the evidence presented, then substantial justice has been served.

These examples illustrate how substantial justice is about ensuring that the legal process is fair and that the outcome is based on the merits of the case. It is not about technicalities or procedural errors, but about ensuring that justice is done.