May God have mercy upon your soul

"May God have mercy upon your soul" or "may God have mercy on your soul" is a phrase used within courts in various legal systems by judges pronouncing a sentence of death upon a person found guilty of a crime that carries a death sentence. The phrase originated in beth din courts in the Kingdom of Israel as a way to attribute God as the highest authority in law.^[1] The usage of the phrase later spread to England and Wales' legal system and from there to usage throughout the colonies of the British Empire whenever a death sentence was passed.

Depending on where it is used, the phrase has had different emphasis through the years. It was formally intended as a prayer for the soul of the condemned.^[2]^[3] However, in later times, particularly in the United States, it has only been said as a result of legal tradition where the religious meaning and origin is not founded on belief.^[4]

^ The Ethical Outlook, Volumes 46-47. American Ethical Union. 1960. p. 56.
^ Cite error: The named reference trial was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference tcr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference norton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[et-1] The Ethical Outlook, Volumes 46-47. American Ethical Union. 1960. p. 56.

[trial-2] Cite error: The named reference trial was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[tcr-3] Cite error: The named reference tcr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[norton-4] Cite error: The named reference norton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]