Paanchi was a Nephite figure of political significance, best known for the contention he spurred surrounding the judgment seat left void by his father, Pahoran, the chief judge who died around 52 B.C. As one of the three sons of Pahoran, along with his brothers Pahoran and Pacumeni, Paanchi vied for the esteemed position of chief judge. However, when the judgment seat was conferred upon Pahoran by the popular vote of the people, Pacumeni accepted the result, but Paanchi did not. Discontented and embittered, Paanchi sought to lead a faction of the populace in rebellion against the decision in an attempt to usurp the judgment seat for himself (Helaman 1:7).
Paanchi’s actions were steered by a desire to flatter constituents into rebellion, an undertaking aimed at overturning the established order and dismantling the liberties that sustained Nephite society. His plan to seize power was abruptly interrupted when he was taken into custody and subjected to a trial “according to the voice of the people,” which led to his condemnation and subsequent execution under the law (Helaman 1:8). Despite the quashing of Paanchi’s immediate endeavor, the ripple effects of his defiance initiated a series of events with long-lasting consequences. His frustrated followers sought vengeance through the assassination of Pahoran, employing the services of an assassin named Kishkumen. This act of treachery pushed Pacumeni to ascend as chief judge (Helaman 1:9, 13). Furthermore, it played a crucial role in the emergence of the villainous secret combinations led by Kishkumen and Gadianton, which grew to challenge the stability and moral fabric of Nephite civilization.