Why should court impartiality not depend only on a judge’s personal honesty?

Correct answer: Institutional independence and due procedure also help ensure fairness

The correct answer is A. A judge’s honesty is valuable, but fairness cannot safely depend on one person’s character alone. Courts need institutional safeguards such as independence from political pressure, clear legal procedures, open reasoning, evidence-based decisions, and opportunities for appeal or review. These arrangements reduce the chance that personal bias, fear, favour, or outside influence will affect a judgment. Option A is correct because both individual integrity and strong institutions support impartial justice. Option B is wrong: honesty is important, even though it is not sufficient by itself. Option C is wrong because procedure protects the rights of all sides and helps decisions remain consistent and reasoned. Option D is wrong because government control could pressure judges to decide cases in favour of those in power. The basic lesson is that good institutions do not assume every person will always behave perfectly; they create safeguards that make fair behaviour more likely. Memory cue: honest judges need independent rules and procedures around them.