If the person did not intend to do wrong, is there really anything to forgive? For example, I have been waiting for a court decision on child-custody for a very long time. The people in the court are not meaning to be unfair, but justice delayed is justice denied. Can I forgive those who are delaying the decision if they do not intend to do wrong?
The short answer is, “Yes.” You should consider yourself free to forgive.
There are at least three issues to consider when assessing wrong: the act itself, the intention, and the circumstances. The circumstances here seem to be that the court is overwhelmed with cases (but I am only surmising this). The intention of the court, as you say, is to see that justice is done. Yet, the act itself—the delay—is unjust given the seriousness of the decision for which you are waiting. The act itself is wrong and so you should go ahead and forgive.
I have found that when an injustice (such as the long delay that you are experiencing) occurs, it is hard to forgive because the injustice is not easing up. Go ahead and forgive nonetheless. The act of forgiving may ease some of your inner turmoil. I would urge you to be gentle with yourself because the anger from an ongoing injustice still may be with you.
