Albert Barnes Commentary Deuteronomy 19:17

"then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days;" — Deuteronomy 19:17 (ASV)

Both the men, between whom the controversy is—not the accused and the false witness, but the plaintiff and defendant , who were summoned before the supreme court held at the sanctuary, as provided in Deuteronomy 17:0. The judges acted as God’s representative; to lie to them was to lie to Him.