A complaint against the lower judges for permitting such actions was made to the Chief Judge of the whole land at Zarahemla, and the offenders were tried according to the law. The wicked were strong because they were united in evil. But unity in evil is conspiracy, and that is just what happened among them. The kindred and friends of the offenders, with certain lawyers and high priests, entered into a secret agreement, or covenant to destroy the people who were in favor of law and order. This wicked covenant in turn destroyed justice; its aim was to save the guilty judges from the just penalty of their misdeeds. This was, in fact, the re-establishment of the order of Gadianton. They proposed to assassinate the governor, set up a king to rule the country, and destroy its liberties.