"Trials by the adversarial contest must in time go the way of the ancient trial by battle and blood"

This quote by Warren E. Burger is referring to the idea that the adversarial contest, or the legal system of two opposing sides arguing their case in court, will eventually become obsolete. This is in comparison to the ancient trial by battle and blood, which was a kind of trial by battle in which two parties would fight each other to determine the outcome of a dispute. This quote implies that the adversarial contest, which is the present legal system, will eventually be replaced by a more modern-day and efficient system. Burger is suggesting that the adversarial contest is obsoleted and ineffective, which it will eventually be changed by a more efficient system. This quote is a tip that the legal system is continuously evolving which it is very important to keep up to date with the most recent developments in order to ensure justice is served.