י:נוֹהֲגִין שֶׁשִּׁבְעָה טוֹבֵי הָעִיר דָּנִין דִינֵי קְנָסוֹת, כְּגוֹן עַל חֲבָלוֹת וְחֵרוּפִים וְכַדּוֹמֶה, וְאֵין לָהֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר בְּלִי בֵית-דִּין, כִּי יֵשׁ בְּעִנְיָנִים אֵלּוּ הַרְבֵּה חִלוּקֵי דִינִים, וְאֵין לַעֲשׂוֹת יוֹתֵר מִן הָרָאוּי עַל פִּי הַדָּת, וְאַל יְהִי קַל בְּעֵינֵיהֶם כְּבוֹד הַבְּרִיוֹת
The custom is that the seven who organize the city [shiv'ah tuv'ei ha'ir -- loosely: city elders] judge cases of fines, like for [causing someone else] bruises or becoming unconsious and the like. It is not for them to do anything with a court, for there are in these matters many disputes and distinctions in the laws. They may not do more than is appropriate according to the rite, and they can not have the honor of people as a light [matter] in their eyes.
