Are you likely to play favorites, give preference to those most like you? Family, social, politics, employment, hobbies, interests? While that would be improper in our context, we are talking about that which results in consequences. The context of the passage is legal, determining what is just between someone close to you and someone different from you. What is it that you would feel gives you the right to give preference to someone more like you? Surprisingly, God is displeased with preferential treatment in both finance and legalities.
We have a precept in United States law of trial by a ‘jury of peers’ which was not intended to limit the jury to people ‘like’ you in race, creed, education or appearance but rather that we are to see all mankind as ‘peers’ with the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and consequences as ourselves. And that no one is ‘above’ the law before God who gives all mankind rights before Him.
In this particular passage, God is giving the framework to lighten Moses’ workload. Not only is just judgment given to others but also it is recognized as ultimately being God’s judgment. Amen.