Reply To: Psak by Gedolei Yisroel on Reporting

“lt is clear that no one in the world has the authority to establish guilt without both [the accuser and accused] coming to an accepted bais din for the matter to be heard amongst “brothers.” lf one does this [establishes guilt without a determination of a bais din] even if he is “as tall as a cedar treeיי [a great scholar] he has made an absolute error. And more so he [the accuser] may not take any damaging action against the accused and even more so may not bring any accusation to the secular authorities. Such actions [reporting made to the secular authorities] are elucidated in [Shulchan Aruch] Choshen Mishpat chapter 388 [which discusses the penalties for “mesira” reporting to the secular authorities]. And there can be no [Jewish law] lawful and righteous means [to report to the secular authorities] other than to first show that one has in their possession a clear detailed ruling in writing from an expert Bais Din that includes specifics of the matter. And if one violates this ruling and commits the deed of reporting to the secular authorities it is incumbent upon him to rectify this misdeed and do everything possible to clear the accused of any trace of allegations with the secular authorities. And it does not need to be said that it is prohibited to assist and participate with them [the secular authorities] in their efforts to persecute a Jew.”