I honestly think that by far, the majority of people around the world have ever had to make tough decisions, which have led them to unintentionally break the law.

In some cases, in fact, people are boxed in a corner that they break the law knowingly and intentionally. Unable to pay for life saving healthcare services, for example, some have attempted to defraud healthcare facilities and succeeded.

Seriously, though, the majority of people in the world live in jurisdictions in which the law is not applied within the parameters of the adage, “no one is above the law”; or worse more, the rule of law is absent completely.

“57 percent of people do not have access to basic legal rights, protections, and remedies.” LexisNexis

Read “Radical Client of the Bar” for more insights.

In jurisdictions where some brazenly break the law and get away with it or in which people are denied access to basic legal rights, protections, and remedies, it is mighty tempting to break the law knowingly and intentionally.

After all, the rich, those in power and with connections brazenly do so and get a way with it, you might rationalize your actions.

I know for sure that I have unintentionally broken the law, because like many ordinary citizens in our Country our level of civic education is so law.

We are not familiar with the provisions in our nation’s Constitution nor are we familiar with the multitude of laws of our Country.

Worse more, for example, this past week, many of us ordinary citizens are in shock at allegations that have been leveled against our country’s current Chief Justice, together with a Justice of the Court of Appeal and our country’s current Attorney General that:

“On multiple occasions and in exercise of the duties of their respective offices and positions they have conducted themselves in a manner in contravention of the Law.”

That is to say, they have broken the law, perhaps unintentionally.

Read “In the Constitutional Court the Bar versus the Bench – Petition 5 of 2025” for more insights.

If the assumption holds true that these distinguished learned men, holding high positions within our country’s justice, law and order sector, in their conduct and administration of justice, unintentionally broke the Law.

Then it would be foolhardy for me, an ordinary citizen, to answer today’s writing prompt in the negative. Yes, I have most likely broken the law unintentionally.