(Mishnah - R. Meir): Monetary cases require three judges. This [litigant] picks one [judge], and this picks one, and both of them choose one more;

Chachamim say, the two judges (picked by the two parties) pick a third.

(Gemara - R. Zeira): Since [the litigant] picked the [judge], he will pursue to vindicate him.

What is R. Meir's reason? It is in order that all three are picked through one agreement [of the parties].

What is Rabanan's reason? You cannot choose everything you want! (If one chooses two of the judges, his opponent is unlikely to agree. He will want to pick two of them!) Rather, I and you (my opponent) choose [one each], and we will seat [to be the third judge] what they (the ones we chose) want.

Question: It is difficult for Rabanan - if one of the [first two judges] died (and the two remaining pick a replacement), are not all three chosen according to one opinion?! (The other of the first two judges helped pick both others - Korban ha'Edah.)

(Mishnah - R. Meir): This one can disqualify the other's [choice of a] judge, (and this one can disqualify the other's judge;

Chachamim say, when is this? It is if he can bring a proof that he is a relative or invalid to judge. One cannot disqualify a Kosher or Mumcheh judge.

(Gemara) Inference: Our Mishnah says that one can disqualify the other's [choice of a] judge, but not his own judge.

(Reish Lakish): [R. Meir says that one cannot disqualify the other's judge, i.e.] from the courts of Surya (commoners), but not Torah (expert) judges.

(R. Yochanan): It is even for Torah judges.

So it was said - two people had a Din in Antuchya. One said to the other "what R. Yochanan will say, I accept on myself";

R. Yochanan heard and said "he cannot exert his opponent [force him to come to here]. Rather, Beis Din there will hear their claims, and if [Beis Din] will need, they will write and send [details of] the case to Rabanan."

(R. Lazar): If this one says [we will go to Din] in Tiverya, and this one says in Tzipori, we heed the one who says in Tiverya (it has a greater Beis Din than Tzipori).

Question: [Does R. Meir hold that] he can always disqualify whom the other brings?!

Answer (R. Zeira): This refers to a secondary Beis Din (unlearned people).

(R. Hilah): R. Lazar said, if this one says in Tiverya, and this one says in Tzipori - this is when [the parties] dwell the same distance from them. It is seven Mil to here (Tiverya) and to here (Tzipori), or nine Mil to here and to here.

(R. Yosi): We learn from this that if two people have a Din in Tiverya, and this one says "we will go to the great Beis Din", and this one says says "we will go to the small Beis Din", we heed the one who says the great Beis Din.

(Mishnah - R. Meir): This one can disqualify the other's witnesses, and this one can disqualify the other's witnesses;

Chachamim say, when is this? It is when he can prove that they are relatives or invalid witnesses, but if they are Kosher, he cannot disqualify them.

(Gemara - Reish Lakish): Our Mishnah discusses disqualifying the other's witness, but not [two] witnesses;

(R. Yochanan): It discusses even his witnesses;

(Beraisa): One can always add judges, until the judgment is finished. He can always bring his testimonies and proofs until the judgment is finished.

R. Yochanan agrees that if there are no witnesses except for them, he cannot disqualify them.

(Ze'ira): He (the litigant) and one from the market (i.e. anyone else) can disqualify this testimony. (The litigant is not believed by himself.)

Question (R. Chaninah): Doesn't one witness obligate a Shevu'ah everywhere? (Why does Reish Lakish hold that he can disqualify one witness? All the more so it is difficult why R. Yochanan says that he can disqualify two witnesses!)

Answer (R. Ze'ira): A Pasul needs to be disqualified in Beis Din. A relative need not be disqualified in Beis Din.

(Rabah bar Avuha citing Rav): Three is like a final verdict. (Pnei Moshe - the Tosefta taught that if two judges disagreed and the third did not know, we add two judges. If one of those two cannot decide, we must add another two, for it is as if we added only one. However, if initially two judges agreed and one did not know, and we added, and now three agree, we follow them, even if also the other added judge cannot decide. Hagahos R. Dinar - this belongs below, in the Sugya of retracting.)