Judgment Seat is the office and place from which a chief judge judged and governed the people. Nephihah was appointed chief judge and “sat in the judgment-seat to judge and to govern the people” after Alma delivered the office to him (Alma 4:17–18). Nephihah’s son was appointed “chief judge and governor over the people,” with an oath to judge righteously and bring the wicked to justice according to their crimes (Alma 50:39).
The judgment-seat was held by chief judges and was the subject of contention. After Pahoran died, his sons Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni contended for the judgment-seat and caused divisions among the people (Helaman 1:2–4). Helaman “did fill the judgment-seat with justice and equity” (Helaman 3:20). Cezoram was murdered by an unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment-seat, and his appointed son was also murdered in the same year (Helaman 6:15).