Learn English – Idiom request for speaking about punishing or scolding somebody before they are proved guilty, just out of prejudgement

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I'm looking for an idiom, expression or a (set) phrase that implies "to punish somebody just out of prejudgment".

We Iranians have a saying that literally means "one shouldn't punish people before they having committed a crime."

Example scenario:

Suppose that a mom finds something like tobacco in her teenage son's room while she is cleaning there.
She becomes very angry and as soon as the son returns home after school, the mom starts scolding him for smoking!
The son desperately insists that he has never smoked, so the mom shows him the tobacco-like stuff. The son says:

But these are just some dried leaves from my Science class, you can even ask my teacher too! Come on, mom! Why are you punishing me before I have been proven guilty?! (= why are you scolding me just because of your wrong prejudgment about me?)

Is there any idiom or expression that can be used with this connotation?

I have found "Jump to conclusions", can I say "Come on, mom! Don't jump to conclusions before knowing the truth, I'm innocent"
(Please stop scolding me just out of prejudgment).

I have also found this title, but I'm not sure if it would have the same connotation with the Persian saying.

Best Answer

Consider the phrase rush to judgment as the action of one who concludes too quickly on the basis of insufficient or misconstrued evidence.

In an article published at stubbornthings.org Jerry Richardson contrasts a rush to judgment with the concept of the Rule of Law expounded by Madison in Federalist No. 51:

Vigilantes often rush to judgment, and get it wrong. Result? Innocent people get killed or otherwise unjustly punished.

I prefer this expression as generally accessible to less cliched than "judging a book by its cover."

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