John Trapp on Ecclesiastes 3:16

Verſ. 16. The place of judgement, that wickedneſs was there] i. e. That wrong reigned in the places of Judicature, that Juſtice was ſhamefully perverted, and publick Authority abuſed to publick injury. Cato ſaw as much in the Roman States, and complained, that private robbers were laid in cold irons,A. Gell. lib. 21. cap. 16. when publick theeves went in gold chains, and were cloathed in Purple. Another, not without cauſe, complains, that even among us Chriſtians, ſome follow the adminiſtration of Juſtice as a trade onely; with an unquenchable and unconſcionable deſire of gain: which juſtifies the common reſemblance of the Courts of Juſtice to the Buſh, whereto whiles the Sheep flyes for defence in ill weather, hee is ſure to loſe part of his fleece. Such wickedneſs ſaw the Wiſeman in the place of Judgement, where hee leaſt looked for it. God himſelf looked for judgement, but behold a ſcab, Iſa. 5.7. So the Hebrew hath it.