"Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison." Matthew 5:25

In Roman law, if a person had a quarrel with someone that he couldn't settle privately, he had the right to order his adversary to accompany him to the praetor. If he refused, the prosecutor took someone present to witness by saying, "May I take you to witness?"

If the person consented, he offered the tip of his ear, which would then be touched by the prosecutor. This was a form that was observed toward witnesses in some other legal ceremonies among the Romans.

Then the plaintiff might drag the defendant to court by force in any way; in Matt.28:28 it was by the neck...

"Worthless" persons such as thieves and robbers might be dragged before the judge without the formality of calling a witness.

If on the way the matter was settled, no further legal steps were taken.

When the acused is thus legally seized by the accuser, he is urged to make up his quarrel while on the way to the judge so that no further legal process should be necessary.