Like his grandfather, Alma, Nephi found that the judgment-seat took too much of his time. In his proper prioritizing, he left the legal matters to Cezoram, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them (Alma 4:19). This, too, occurred at a time when the judgment-seat was a very important job as the people were changing the laws of Mosiah and ripening for destruction. But Nephi would not make the mistake of getting the cart before the horse. He understood that what was lacking was not wisdom at the judgment-seat but morality in the minds and hearts of the people. Moral fiber cannot be replaced by more legislation.
Today's politicians do the opposite of Nephi and Lehi. They design government programs and policies to make up for the lack of moral fiber in society. Do tax breaks to single parents compensate for broken hearts and broken families? Does contraceptive counseling change the tragedy of immorality? Do stiffer prison sentences control the behavior of the drug or alcohol addict? Nephi's actions declare that he didn't think so.