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Law and Justice

The system of laws in the Shieldlands was established by Lord Francis, a servant of King Morgan Shieldbreaker and is sometimes known as the Franciscan code. Within the code, certain traditions from the coastal kingdoms have been upheld. Only the King has the power to sentence a man to death, and the King and his Tenants in Chief (or their designees) are responsible for upholding the law in their own regions.

Officials of the Justice System

First Justice

The First Justice is the head of the Royal Judicial system and is responsible for crafting the language of new laws and distributing these laws to the Tenants in Chief and other officials. The First Justice does not act as a judge in any matter, but can be consulted for interpretations of the law. The First Justice serves in the King's stead as Viceroy when the King must be out of the country. The First Justice also serves in the King's stead as Regent if the Monarch is not of age to assume the full responsibilities of the throne.

Constables

A constable is an official charged with the enforcement of particular laws. The Constable has the authority to detain individuals and bring them before a court. In Chartered Towns, each member of the Watch is a Constable; Constables are also assigned the responsibility to patrol the King’s roads and forests.

Courts

Petty Court

Villages can deal with internal matters in a petty court made up of the three Village leaders. They have the authority to decide any issue not involving the property of the Manor, but the accused can always appeal to the Manorial Court.

Manorial Court

A Manorial Court is the court of a Manor Lord. The Lord himself hears such cases personally and decides the matter and an appropriate punishment. Manorial courts hear appeals from Petty Courts, though the Lord is not bound to grant an appeal and hear the matter. Appeals from a Manorial Court are presented to the Court of Common Pleas.

Local Courts

Local courts are the courts of Chartered Towns. They are organized by the town in the manner that they see fit. Some have adopted the Dwarven custom of a jury trial, a new concept in the Kingdoms.

Court of Common Pleas

The Court of Common Pleas is a Royal court, with Justices appointed by the King (more accurately, by the First Justice). The court of common pleas hears primarily cases involving disputes between individuals (as opposed to cases involving the commitment of crimes), but it is also responsible for the supervision of Manorial and Local courts. Courts of Common Pleas are held throughout the Kingdom.

The Monarch's Court

Any noble may request that the Monarch hear a matter in his own court. The Tenants-in-Chief can demand that a matter come to light in the Monarch's Court. It is rare occurrence, generally involving accusations made about some member of a Noble family. The court of common pleas can remand any matter where the law is unclear to this court as well.

Punishments

There are few proscribed penalties for civil and criminal offenses; in general, those found guilty of crimes are at the mercy of the court to determine their fate.

Death

Only the King can issue a sentence of death, and it is traditionally only issued for crimes against the state or against the Royal person.

Amercement

A financial penalty (a fine) issued for minor offences (including the minor offence of bringing baseless charges before an official of justice).

Service

Service in the mines or at other hard labor are frequent punishments for serious crimes.

Public Display

Petty crimes are often punished by making a public display of the perpetrator -- time in the stocks or something similar.