Lynch law

Lynch law refers to extrajudicial actions, often violence or executions, carried out by a group without legal authority, usually to punish perceived wrongdoers. It typically involves mob justice where communities take the law into their own hands, bypassing courts or legal procedures. Historically, it has been associated with lynching—public hangings or brutal assaults—especially targeting minorities or accused individuals. Lynch law undermines the rule of law by substituting mob judgment and violence for lawful justice, often leading to unjust, brutal, and arbitrary punishments.