Deuteronomy 21:5

and the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, some from the nearest city set aside for their residence; for them the Lord, thy God, hath chosen to minister unto Him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word, according to their advice and decision, shall every controversy and every stroke be tried, they decide the quarrels and determine when a punishment by beating should be administered, as the representatives of the Lord they receive the statement of the elders and sanction their action;