Commentary for Sanhedrin 33:21
א"ר יוחנן אין מושיבין בסנהדרי אלא בעלי קומה ובעלי חכמה ובעלי מראה ובעלי זקנה ובעלי כשפים ויודעים בע' לשון שלא תהא סנהדרי שומעת מפי המתורגמן
and then the Mishnah agrees with the opinion of all, whilst in the major Sanhedrin, it is possible in accordance with the view of R. Judah, who holds their number to be seventy.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It might happen that thirty-six condemn and thirty-four acquit. ');"><sup>34</sup></span> R. Abbahu also said: Where judges are added, an evenly-balanced court may be appointed from the very outset. But is this not obvious?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely this has already been stated in the Mishnah cited. For if two are added when the twenty-third is dubious, the court consists of an even number. ');"><sup>35</sup></span>