Exodus 23: A meditation

Exodus 23: 
1 "Do not pass along false reports. Do not cooperate with evil people by telling lies on the witness stand.
2 "Do not join a crowd that intends to do evil. When you are on the witness stand, do not be swayed in your testimony by the opinion of the majority.
-Self-explanatory to me, yet I can feel the silent social pressure to go along to get along, to not make trouble.  Mostly the trouble I don't want to make is for other people.  I hate inconveniencing others.  The truth can be mighty inconvenient.3 And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.
-I find it strange that this would need to be said.  In the New Testament, there are many reminders to think of the poor, to care for them, etc.  In this case, I am being reminded not to go overboard and sin in my consideration for the poor.  Is this always poor in money or poor in ability, poor in cognitive power?

4 "If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner. 5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you struggling beneath a heavy load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and offer to help.
-It is easy to say, hard to do: Do the Right Thing No Matter What!

6 "Do not twist justice against people simply because they are poor.
-He must be serious about treating the poor fairly.  This time the verse says don't go against them.  I can see this happening more often in American culture than I can verse 3.  It is just easier to get away with not doing right by the poor because they don't have the resources.

7 "Keep far away from falsely charging anyone with evil. Never put an innocent or honest person to death. I will not allow anyone guilty of this to go free.
-Innocent or honest (in legal terms is there a difference).
-This verse, along with love thy neighbor and the over all Bible theme of Grace and Mercy, make me even more sure of my stance against the death penalty.  I certainly don't want to get something that serious wrong.  Of course, this verse does not say 'don't put anyone who is actually guilty to death' but it is very difficult to determine that in many cases in which people are actually sentenced to death.