What does a regulator do when political pressure conflict with the public good? Remember Erin Brockovich in Beverly Hills, and the Viscusi book question of what to do if the public's perception is biased.

All the Gospel accounts agree that Pilate did not believe Jesus to be guilty of anything meriting death. And Pilate clearly has the power to release Jesus or to crucify Him, as he himself tells Jesus.

1) Pass the Buck I. He tries to turn the matter back on the Sanhedrin, even though he already suspects that Jesus is innocent.

2) Get More Information/Create a Crime. When they refuse, he accepts the case and puts various questions to Jesus, no doubt hoping for some information which will give him a way out of the affair.

3) Pass the Buck II. Discovering the Jesus is a Galilean, he sends the whole matter over to Herod, who is in Jerusalem. Not a federal problem, Pilate says. This one's a matter for the provinces. Herod does not cooperate and sends Jesus back to Pilate.

4) Pretend to Take Action/Pass the Buck III. To guarantee the desired outcome, in which Pilate would take credit for both condemning and releasing Jesus, Pilate offers the crowd the murderous Barabbas as an unsavory alternative. Alas, the crowd is not distracted from the matter at hand and chooses Barabbas; Pilate's plan is foiled.

5) Take Mild Action. Pilate has Jesus scourged — a serious punishment in its own right, and administered to an innocent man solely in the hopes of placating the crowd. The crowd is not placated.

6) Threaten to Expose the Agent to the Principal. Pilate repeatedly asks the crowd what they want done with Jesus. He appears stung by the accusation that he will be accused of disloyalty to Caesar if he lets Jesus go. So he gives the order for crucifixion.

7) Pass the Buck IV/Disclaim Responsibility. Washing his hands, Pilate denies all responsibility for the order he himself has given. He is not responsible; it is the will of the people.

So it would appear that at the end of Good Friday, Pilate could look back on a crisis averted, an important political friendship established, a debt no doubt owed him by the Sanhedrin for his accession to their plot, and as for the messy business of crucifying an innocent man — well, he had plenty of answers should his wife bring that up over dinner.