𝕮𝖔𝖉𝖊𝖝 𝕵𝖚𝖗𝖎𝖘: 𝕲𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖗𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖈𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

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 realm’s legal and court affairs at the highest level, second only to The King. His Majesty’s appointee has direct authority over Sanctuary’s 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 King’s 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 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 King’s name. A posse of more than five members must receive a secondary commission from the Royal Judges to operate as a legal entity. If granted their commission, a posse becomes a recognized militia contracted by the Royal Guard or Sanctuary Guard to carry out justice. 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 submit reports to the Sanctuary Guard Commander for review and reimburse the commander for fines collected from guilty parties. The Royal Judges may disband both posses and city militias at any point.

𝕮𝖔𝖉𝖊𝖝 𝕵𝖚𝖗𝖎𝖘: 𝕮𝖔𝖚𝖗𝖙 𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖈𝖊𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘

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 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 ordinary practice, Justarians are often 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 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.