ONLY the victim can decide mercy "overrides" justice.

In the case of murder, the victim's family still has no say in deciding to "show mercy" rather than justice.  If the criminal wants mercy in that instance, they better find a way to bring the victim back from the dead.

Mercy, like punishment, has nothing to do with justice. Justice is really about protecting the people, the victims. Punishment, and its absence mercy, does not do this. The prison system is simply a place to put the criminals to keep them away from us. There is not supposed to be any punishment or mercy in … Read more

If it's real justice there wouldn't need mercy.  Punishment must fit the crime.  There is no ''Oh,  poor criminal had a bad day."

--not sure I understood the question--

I think one should be tempered with the other. Justice tempered with, not overshadowed by, mercy; and mercy given only so much as to be just.

When an injustice has been done to your child and you need to forgive said person... That is the ONLY time mercy becomes above justice!

How about Portia's speech in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE for an answer.

(I had to memorize this back in high school in the early 60's---but I don't remember it all.)

When the individual wronged decides it does.