By decree of His Majesty King Desmon Volari, first of His Name and Protector of Sanctuary, patriarch Lord Vezio Lariat is hereby appointed to the position of High Judge. This royal officer must manage the realmโs legal and court affairs at the highest level, second only to The King. His Majestyโs appointee has direct authority over Sanctuaryโs court officials and the Sanctuary Guard. The High Judge also possesses the ability to appoint or remove subordinate court officials, such as Justarians, Magistrates, and a Sheriff.
Whether citizen or outsider, all mortals are subject to the law enshrined hereinafter while present in Sanctuary and its marches. Any mortal accused of and arrested for high crimes is guaranteed their case will be brought before a court official for trial following detainment. However, misdemeanors do not meet The Kingโs standard for a day in court. These transgressions are in the purview of the Sanctuary Guard and its Sheriff, who will punish wrongdoers at their discretion.
Members of the Sanctuary Guard may apprehend, fine, jail, and punish criminals for misdemeanor offenses. Misdemeanor cases are only elevated to the scope of court officials if there is evidence of culpability in a high crime. To prevent miscarriages of justice, misdemeanor offenses and their punishments are transcribed for review by the Sanctuary Guard Commander. Otherwise, felony indictees are thereby jailed or remanded to their place of residence, which is principally decided by the court official trying their case. Indictees of noble standing must be released on their recognizance while awaiting trial, as is their privilege by status. Nobles who abuse the benevolence of The King to evade a trial or hearing are formally stripped of their title and charged with treason.
Patricians of the noble class may appeal to court officials for a pardon on the grounds of status when charged with crimes, in which case a clemency hearing is initiated. This privilege does not extend to knights and dames, as these titled individuals are not commonly appointees of The Crown. Any guard or noble court official accused of a crime will be suspended from duty until they resolve all charges against them. Only a genteel holding a royal appointment cannot be prosecuted or placed on suspension without written sanction from The Crown.
A posse acting under the issue of a city warrant may apprehend at-large criminals. Posses may not detain indictees or criminals for a period longer than is necessary to transfer them into the custody of court and city officials, nor may they enact justice in The Kingโs name. A posse consisting of more than five members must receive a secondary commission from the Royal Judges to operate as a legal entity. If granted the commission above, the posse forms a recognized militia who are contracted by the Royal Guard or Sanctuary Guard to carry out justice at any point. They must work with the respective guard forces and court officials in all operations. Unlike a posse, it is within the legal right of city militias to enact punishment for misdemeanor crimes. Militia commanders must still submit reports to the Sanctuary Guard Commander for review as well as reimburse the commander for fines collected from guilty parties. The Royal Judges may disband both posses and city militias at any point.
The Court of Sanctuary operates as follows: Individuals charged with a high crime or felony proceed to be arraigned by a Justarian, who is responsible for trying the case and determining whether to convict or acquit the accused. Justarians are noble court officials appointed by the House Lariat to uphold the laws of Sanctuary. They must impartially assess the innocence or guilt of lower nobles or commoners within the framework of The King's law. A Justarian also must recuse themselves from any case involving parties they are related to, whether by blood or marriage.
Justarian's decisions after a trial are generally final and are overruled only by The King or royally appointed representatives of the Crown. Justarians can oversee clemency hearings for lower nobles but are not permitted to preside over hearings for high nobles. Trials and arraignments are open to the public and occur no more than two (OOC) days after the accused's arrest. Once brought before a Justarian, the accused becomes a defendant and may choose to appoint or hire legal counsel. This counsel advocates for the defendant's innocence to the Justarian, questions witnesses, and represents the defendant throughout the trial. Defendants also have the right to represent themselves.
The burden of proof in every trial lies with the arresting official, who becomes the prosecutor once the trial commences. The prosecutor coordinates the case on behalf of Sanctuary's citizens and the court, seeking to penalize the defendant. Witnesses called by the prosecutor and the defendant are legally required to testify, although Justarians have the authority to deem a witness unfit or irrelevant and dismiss them. In common practice, Justarians are ordinarily partial to the testimony of nobility over others, mainly when the accused is one among the peasantry. While not an official stance The Crown has taken, pressure from the royal offices is felt in the lower echelons of the court, and it is practically accepted jurisprudence.
Clemency hearings, unlike trials, are private affairs where an accused noble appeals directly to a Justarian, Magistrate, or Royal Judge without the presence of the prosecuting official. Nobles may be extended pardons on a case-by-case basis. The accused could also be given certain concessions irrespective of their crime, such as the right to trial by combat, a reduced sentence, or even exoneration. If a Royal Judge, Magistrate, or Justarian finds grounds for a trial by combat, the prosecution receives a summons to provide their consent. If the prosecution agrees, single combat must commence before three (OOC) days following the finding. Without consent for combat, the Royal Judge, Magistrate, or Justarian may no longer exonerate the accused noble but may still reduce their sentence upon reaching a conviction after trial.
The following outlines grievous and heinous crimes against The King and his realm, considered transgressions of the highest order. Any citizen or outsider indicted on hereinafter offenses is at the mercy of The Kingโs justice according to a trial.
I. Treason against Sanctuary, including the misuse of King Desmonโs good name, slander or libel against The Crown and the House Volari, compromising or selling Crown and state secrets, espionage on behalf of a foreign or domestic power against The Crown, inciting violence or insurrection with the intent of rioting or regicide, and the attempted assassination of one or more of the high nobility.
II. Murder, torture, or the maiming of one or more common citizens, outsiders, or nobles. This includes the attempt of these wicked acts.
III. Robbery, defined here as theft committed with the promise of violence or violence against another.
IV. Kidnapping or the unlawful imprisonment of common citizens, outsiders, or nobles.
V. Assault and/or the battery of one or more common citizens, outsiders, or nobles.
VI. Vigilantism, up to and including the slaying, maiming, assault or battery of criminals and indictees, precisely without acting in self-defense or the defense of others.
VII. Arson and/or the destruction or desecration of public works, buildings, and housing.
VIII. Misconducts in a noble or royal office or appointment, including simony, bribery, election tampering, negligence, embezzlement, or abuse of power.
IX. Perjury as a witness, prosecutor, counselor, or defendant.
X. Fraudulent use of The Kingโs mint and/or counterfeiting Imperium.
XI. Forgery of official and royal documents, including deeds, charters, contracts, mercantile arrangements, confessions, wills, testimonies, warrants, and commissions.
The following outlines misdemeanors or crimes committed against the realm and its citizenry, considered standard offenses. Any citizen or outsider convicted of hereinafter offenses is punishable by city and watch officials or city militias.
I. Theft, petty theft, or burglary, including entering domiciles, businesses, tombs, gravesites, and buildings without express permission, pickpocketing, swindling, and peddling or falsifying the value or quality of goods.
II. Bribery while holding an ignoble public office or appointment.
III. Witchcraft, specifically the misuse of magic for criminal gain and/or enterprising, or doing so to enable harm to Sanctuary and its citizens or nobility through the use of said magics.
IV. Obstruction of justice, including aiding, abetting, housing, sponsoring, or assisting criminals and indictees in any capacity, as well as attempting to bribe Sanctuary Guards.
V. Evasion of justice, including assaulting, battering, misleading, or escaping the custody of law or court officials while being questioned, detained, arraigned, tried, penalized, or sentenced.
VI. Impersonation of a noble official and/or members of nobility.
VII. Disturbing the peace or the undue harassment of ordinary citizens, outsiders, businesses, merchants, and nobility.
VIII. Extortion or coercion of ordinary citizens, outsiders, businesses, merchants, and nobility.
IX. Public drunkenness or intoxication in such excess you are a disturbance and/or threat to yourself and others.
Unless the sentence for a guilty conviction is determined to be death, exile, or title revocation, court officials summarily invoke The King's justice. This clause allows the High Judges and The Crown to review the case and potentially pardon or commute the sentence. Royal Judges, Magistrates and Justarians are permitted to sentence convicted criminals to a maximum of two punishments per guilty charge or one for treason and homicide. Members of the Sanctuary Guard can issue no more than one punishment to a criminal or two for multiple offenses. The list of lawful punishments is as dictated here:
High Crimes
Treason: Revocation of noble titles and land, branding, imprisonment, exile, or execution. (1 OOC week.)
Murder or the attempt of: A fine not to exceed five hundred Imperium, imprisonment, exile, branding or execution. (5 OOC days.)
Torture or mutilation: A fine not to exceed five hundred Imperium, imprisonment, branding, or exile. (4 OOC days.)
Robbery or the attempt of: A fine not to exceed four hundred Imperium, imprisonment, lashes or branding. (4 OOC days.)
Kidnapping or the attempt of: A fine not to exceed four hundred Imperium, lashes, or imprisonment. (4 OOC days)
Assault and battery: A fine not to exceed four hundred Imperium, lashes, or imprisonment. (3 OOC days.)
Vigilantism: A fine not to exceed four hundred Imperium, lashes or imprisonment. (3 OOC days.)
Arson or the attempt of: A fine not to exceed three hundred Imperium, beating, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Destruction of or defacing property: A fine not to exceed three hundred Imperium, beating, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Misconduct in or abuse of a noble or royal office: Removal from office and a fine not to exceed three hundred Imperium, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Perjury: A fine not to exceed two hundred Imperium, the stockade, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Counterfeiting The Kingโs mint: A fine not to exceed two hundred Imperium, the stockade, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Forgery: A fine not to exceed two hundred Imperium, the stockade, and imprisonment. (1 OOC day.) Misdemeanors
Theft, petty theft, burglary or the attempt of: A fine not to exceed two hundred Imperium, lashes, the stockade, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Bribery while holding an ignoble office/position: A fine not to exceed one hundred and fifty Imperium, the stockade, or imprisonment. (1 OOC day.)
Witchcraft, defined as unlawful use of magic: A fine not to exceed one hundred Imperium, lashes, or imprisonment. (1 OOC day.)
Obstruction of justice: A fine not to exceed one hundred Imperium, the stockade, or imprisonment. (1 OOC day.)
Evasion of justice: A fine not to exceed two hundred Imperium, beating, lashes, or additional imprisonment once tried. (+1 OOC days to sentences received if found guilty.)
Impersonation of a noble or royal official: A fine not to exceed two hundred Imperium, lashes, or imprisonment. (2 OOC days.)
Disturbing the peace: A fine not to exceed fifty Imperium, or temporary incarceration. (3 OOC hours.)
Extortion: A fine not to exceed one hundred Imperium, or imprisonment. (12 OOC hours.)
Public drunkenness: A fine not to exceed fifty Imperium and temporary incarceration. (1 OOC hour.)
[OOC Note: The extent of imprisonment or fines can be decreased by a judiciary or guard. It is encouraged to account for a characterโs time spent jailed before sentencing criminal characters, as well as fining criminals in proportion to the crime.]
High Judge: The Chief Justice of The King, a high noble selected to orchestrate the continued safety, security, and welfare of Sanctuaryโs legal and judicial body. This lordly judge is the head of The Royal College of Justices and may modify or amend Sanctuaryโs legal code and judicial outcomes. Pardons, royal warrants, fines, and punishments for all are within the boundary of the High Judgeโs role. The High Judge issues appointments for every office below them and demotes or disinherits disloyal or criminal malefactors within them. It is to their office that the loyalty of the Sanctuary Guard is sworn, second only to The King.
Royal Justices: A collegium or board of five high nobles adherent to the will of the High Judge and King who vote on or raise bills and legal amendments to the High Judge for ratification. Royal Judges also oversee the felony trials and clemency hearings for other members of the high nobility and issue royal warrants to the Sanctuary Guard and militias. Royal Justices review the verdicts of low noble and ignoble felony criminal cases, reprimanding for as well as guiding lesser judiciaries in their decisions.
Knight-Commander of the Royal Guard: A noble person groomed for duty and chosen to lead and manage the arm of Sanctuaryโs finest company of guards by King Desmon himself. The Knight-Commander is a tested and cunning combatant with unyielding loyalty to the crown, who maintains order among the high nobles and is their first point of contact when a conflict between themselves and the plebeians arises. Knight-Commanders are not inferior to the High Judge; they equate in rank, as their post is separate and adherent only to The King.
Knight-Captain of the Royal Guard: The Knight-Commanderโs second in command and quartermaster of the Royal Guard, also hand-picked by King Desmon for this duty. They answer only to The King and Knight-Commander, train prospective lieutenants, and receive their reports from their subordinates for review. A Knight-Captain typically manages a retinue of five lieutenants and their squadrons at a time.
Knight-Lieutenant of the Royal Guard: Former squires, heralds, and pages or younger sons and daughters of high nobles who are relegated to duty by either the head of their family or as a favor from The King himself. Lieutenants head up squadrons of ten or more Royal Guards and lead patrols and investigations in the upper-class districts of Sanctuary.
Knights of the Royal Guard: Elite soldiers tasked with guarding private estates, mitigating crime in the upper districts, acting as couriers between the higher nobles, and patrolling the Crownโs hinterlands. Royal Guards may also be implemented to discourage rioting or protect Crown assets in the event of a riot.
Knights of House Lariat: Adept minor noble warriors knighted by Lord Vezio Lariat, and his eyes and ears on the everyday occurrences in The Kingโs courts and city. They are separate from noble officials and Sanctuaryโs Guard, and likewise do not answer to either. These soldiers act only on House Lariatโs accord.
Magistrates: Expert noble judiciaries who have been promoted from among the Justarians by the High Judge to either try felony criminal cases when their subordinate Judiciaries are declared unfit, or to preside over clemency hearings by the same virtue of reason. Magistrates also ordain city warrants for the arrest of commoners, but must seek the authorization by the Royal Judges to issue a royal warrant for a nobleโs arrest.
Justarians: Noble judiciaries elevated and sponsored by House Lariat to preside over both felony trials and low nobility clemency, issue convictions, document the outcome of trials, register warrants for arrest, and dutifully uphold due process. Justarians are subordinate to all higher judicial appointments, from whom they may seek guidance or aid.
The Sheriff: The highest attainable ignoble office and chief officer of Sanctuaryโs Guard. The High Judge hand-picks a candidate for this position, usually based on popularity within the guard and the length of service the law official provides. Sheriffs may not serve a term of longer than 2 (OOC) months, after which they must wait at least that amount before taking another term in office. The High Judge may occasionally allow citizens to campaign for and vote on the next Sheriff.
A Sheriff is subordinate to all noble and royal court officials, but their duties do not coincide. Sheriffs are not judiciaries, though they can take on the role of prosecutor in any felony case. Sheriffs must submit duly collected fines to the House Lariat no later than the first of each month, and they must review each misdemeanor case or investigative document brought to them by the Commander or other guard members for submission to noble or royal court officials.
The Sanctuary Guard Commander: The Guard Commander serves at the pleasure of the Sheriff and oversees no more than three captains at a time. A Guard Commander is in charge of promoting and demoting members of Sanctuaryโs Guard based on recommendation and merit and docks or increases every subordinate's pay. The Commander compiles all fines and reports, issuing recompense to wrongly convicted misdemeanor criminals and assessing each case for foul play. Duly collected fines and suspect reports are passed up the chain of command to the Sheriff.
Sanctuary Guard Captains (Constables): Guard Captains are the senior officials and quartermasters of Sanctuaryโs Guard, overseeing no more than four Guard Lieutenants and their squadrons at a time. Captains requisition arms and armor, file reports to the Sheriff and Guard Commander, pay their lieutenants, and are ordinarily the prosecutors in felony trials. Guard Captains also review reports from junior officers and guards and pass them along to the Guard Commander.
Sanctuary Guard Lieutenants (Bailiffs): Lieutenants of the Sanctuary Guard are veteran peace officers charged with reprimanding, drilling, and leading squadrons of five Watchmen in their everyday duties. Lieutenants also process guard reports and pass them along to their captains. These officials act as bailiffs, whom Justarians summon to serve warrants and carry out felony punishment on behalf of the court. In rare circumstances, bailiffs may take on the role of prosecutor in a felony trial. Lieutenants are also responsible for hiring and training new members of the Sanctuary Guard.
Sanctuary Guards (Watchmen): Our guards are those taking on the role of maintaining everyday peace and law within our Sanctuary, bound to their duty to the city and its king. It is a guardโs issue to patrol, investigate, and protect the Sanctuaryโs populace. These watchmen may enact punishment upon misdemeanor criminals or apprehend and jail felony suspects. Guards are also required to file reports to their lieutenant after each incident.
[OOC Note: Guards are able to request a promotion or dismissal at any point. This can be done by submitting their case in a ticket, and requesting a meeting with an officer.]
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