Abu Hashim said: Were it not for a hadith that Ibn Buraydah narrated to me from his father (Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him)), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Judges are of three kinds: two are in Hell and one is in Paradise: (1) one who recognises the truth and judges by it; he is in Paradise. (2) One who judges between people in ignorance; he is in Hell. (3) One who recognises the truth and acts unjustly; he too is in Hell," we would have said: When a judge exercises his own judgement, there is no blame on him.
The Shaykh said: Exercising judgement without knowledge does not lead to the truth except by chance, so he is not permitted to do it.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب آداب القاضي / 20354