The Ammonihah Chief Judge was a prominent legal figure in the city of Ammonihah during the latter half of the first century BC. Notorious for his role in the persecution of Alma and Amulek, he exemplified the city’s rejection of the Nephite prophets and their teachings. He is first mentioned in the context of overseeing the trial of Alma and Amulek, where aggrieved citizens presented their grievances against the two prophets, asserting they had spoken blasphemous words against their laws and judges (Alma 14:4-5).
In a display of his authority and disapproval, the chief judge physically punished Alma and Amulek by smiting them on the cheeks after the immolation of innocent women and children and the sacred records (Alma 14:14). Days later, he revisited the prison, once again physically abusing them and mockingly challenging their prophetic declarations of divine judgment upon the people of Ammonihah (Alma 14:23-24).
The abuse and mockery came to an abrupt end, however, when the chief judge met his demise during a miraculous prison break. A divinely sent earthquake shook the prison, collapsing the walls and resulting in his death along with his cohorts—the lawyers, priests, and teachers who had concurred in the mistreatment of Alma and Amulek (Alma 14:27).
His death was not only a literal downfall but also symbolic of the broader fate of Ammonihah, which was destroyed by a Lamanite attack as prophesied by Alma. The chief judge’s actions and his sudden death serve as a cautionary tale within the Book of Mormon narrative, illustrating the consequences of pride, abuse of power, and the rejection of prophetic warnings.