3,774. Kohanim Are Suspected in Matters of Shemittah

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 8:17

If someone is suspected in some matter, even though his word is not taken regarding his own property, he is believed regarding others’ property. This is because there’s a presumption that a person wouldn’t sin for other people. Therefore, even if someone is suspected in a certain matter, he can still judge and testify on cases involving this matter.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 8:18

Kohanim are considered suspected vis-à-vis shemittah. This is because they justify it, saying that since they can eat terumah – which is prohibited to non-kohanim on pain of heavenly death – they should certainly be allowed to eat shemittah produce. Therefore, if a seah of terumah falls into 100 seah of shemittah produce, a seah is removed (and given to kohanim). If it fell into less than 100 seah of shemittah produce, the whole mixture must be left to rot. It’s not sold to kohanim as such mixtures (meduma) normally are because kohanim are suspected in matters of shemittah.