This is an article from reason.com, a Libertarian magazine and blog, although this article is a rare, decidedly un-political one.http://reason.com/archives/2010/02/01/trial-by-ordeal
Just thought I'd share with you guys.
Of course the ordeal system was still inherently unjust, but just interesting this perspective on it; that it did fundamentally WORK in the sense of deterring crime. Of course, much "crime" back then would have consisted of being a witch, blasphemy, working on the sabbath, whatever fun stuff like that. Stupid Christian medeival laws. But there was still of course real crimes like robbery and murder, and it seems the ordeal trials did actually have some effect on reducing those.