To not take a bribe: That the judge not take a bribe from the litigants — even to judge truthfully — as it is stated (Exodus 23:8), “And you shall not take a bribe.” And this negative commandment is repeated in the Torah about this matter in another place (Deuteronomy 16:19). And so did they say in Sifrei Devarim 144:10, “‘You shall not take a bribe’ — even to make the innocent, innocent and the liable, liable.”

It is from the roots of the commandment that it was forbidden to us to take a bribe even to judge a case truthfully, in order to remove this bad practice from among us, lest we will come from this to judge falsely with bribes. And it is a clear thing — it does not need a proof.

From the laws of the commandment is that which they, may their memory be blessed, said (Mishneh Torah, The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within Their Jurisdiction 23:1, 3) that the one who gives and the one who takes it [both] transgress a negative commandment - the one who gives it because of (Leviticus 19:14), “before the blind,” and the one who takes it is included in the curse (Deuteronomy 27:25). And [that] he is obligated to return it; and that it is forbidden for a judge to raise his stature on purpose in order to provide more pay for his scribes. And that it is even forbidden to take an oral bribe — but rather if maybe the litigants honor him with words, he should show himself as if he does not pay attention at all to the words. The general principle of the thing is that it is forbidden for the judge to accept any benefit from the litigants at all for his judgments. But if the judge is a craftsman, the Sages allowed him to take a wage while he is involved in their case, for his idleness from his craft — and that is when the matter is recognizable that it is only a wage for idleness, but not more; and he takes equally from both of them. And the rest of its details — are in Sanhedrin. (See Mishneh Torah, The Sanhedrin and the Penalties within Their Jurisdiction 23.)

And [it] is practiced in every place and at all times by males, as they judge. And one who transgresses it and receives a bribe, violates the commandment of [the] King. But he is not lashed, as it is given to returning.