The Gadianton Judges were judges among the Nephites who also belonged to the secret band of Gadianton. They appear during the ministry of Nephi, son of Helaman, who had spoken to the people of the corruptness of their law (Helaman 8:3). Angered, the judges cried out against Nephi and called on the people to seize him and bring him forth to be condemned for the crime they said he had committed (Helaman 8:1).
The judges were angry because Nephi spoke plainly about their secret works of darkness, but they did not lay hands on him themselves, for they feared the people would cry out against them (Helaman 8:4).