lex talionis

After a scandal over obtaining automatic weapons forced him from his job as an assistant district attorney in Shreveport, he began prosecuting high-stakes cases around the state on a freelance basis, driven by a passionate belief in “lex talionis,” the law of retaliation.

With the latter, the lex talionis—the law of retaliation—governs the basic rules of “eye for an eye” justice.

A curious note appears on this subject in Lex Talionis.

I can't imagine what sort of satisfaction she could claim, unless she wants to punish me by the 'Lex talionis', which would be hardly practicable without a repetition of the original offence.

The lex talionis is an excellent test.