"Justice"

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked

- John 18 (NIV)

There's justice in the barrel / Of a loaded gun

- Bon Jovi

What is "justice"?

Is it based on the "justice system" so that President Obama misused the term when he said OBL being killed ("shot in the head") was an act of justice? The use of rules of engagement, targeting someone who otherwise under the rules of armed conflict could be killed (not just a random "bad guy") and taking into consideration other issues (like his ability for years, if desired, to surrender to Pakistan officials, if desired) would not change this. It might be "moral" or "acceptable," though some think not, but it isn't "justice."

[I reference in this discussion arguments made in a few posts over at the Jurisprudence Slate fray.]

Wikipedia says:

Justice is the concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, fairness, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethic

Does "punishment" here only means via the court of law (here or in the hereafter)? Dictionary.com (if helpful) says this:

1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause. 2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice. 3. the moral principle determining just conduct.

Merriam Webster leads with the "the maintenance or administration" of a system that is "especially by the impartial adjustment," but this doesn't limit ourselves to the courts. When someone says "no justice, no peace," will peace only come in court? One example given:

We should strive to achieve justice for all people.

This brings to mind "social justice" as one activist promotes here. This usually doesn't just mean, though it often does partially mean, use of the "justice system," either criminal or civil. And, sometimes, the justice system, even run fine, is seen as patently unjust. The justice system, e.g., could protect slavery. Does this make the Fugitive Slave Act "justice"? And, if you seek out such "natural justice," where do you seek it out? It need not merely by the heavens as the UN Declaration of Human Rights, signed by secularists too, assumed as a given:

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world

Justice? This board is limited to "jurisprudence," which seems limited somewhat, but broader themes and senses of justice pop up here too. As Victoria Justice says, it is "not so easy" to determine what the word means.