The trial of Jesus took place before the full high council, called the Sanhedrin in Greek. The council had seventy members and was led by the high priest. The Gospels describe the trial as a formal legal process:
The council searched for witnesses (14:55).
They heard testimony from eyewitnesses (14:56–59).
They placed Jesus under oath (Matthew 26:63).
They allowed Jesus to defend himself (Mark 14:60).
The "high priest tore his clothes" (14:63).
The Sanhedrin gave the final verdict (14:64).
This does not mean it was a fair trial. The decision to put Jesus to death had already been made. Evidence was not sought to determine the truth, but to obtain a guilty verdict and death sentence.
False witnesses giving false testimony misrepresented what Jesus said about the destruction and rebuilding of the temple (see 15:29; John 2:19; Acts 6:14). Since the false witnesses contradicted each other, their testimony was not reliable (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15).