もんじゃない translation attempt I'm reading a book, and the antagonist was released from prison early because he bribed the district prosecutioner. The main character says: This is my translation: Bastard... It's like there is no law (lacking in lawfulness?) But I'm not sure how functions here. I know / can function as giving a reason for something. Is used similarly but is used because it is a negative verb?

Your translation attempt is spot-on.

This is a simple noun, "thing". is a set phrase that means "a thing that exists but is like nonexistent," or "a thing that's virtually nonexistent". It's commonly used to describe how something is useless or meaningless.