Law

The Kingdom of Sable is the most civilized kingdom in the realms and is currently the only kingdom with an intricately developed system of Criminal Justice. The Criminal Justice system derives its power of enforcement directly from the King Borgia and Emperor Rendel and the divine blessings of the deity Bilanx.

Case History

Threshold maintains a criminal case history including King's Briefs, Defense Briefs, and Judgments.

Investigation and Justicar Phase

1. If you are the victim of a crime or witness a crime, and wish to report it, go to the Justicars office on Regency Row. Call for a Justicar to discuss the crime. If one does not contact you, send a mudmail to (justicar) and a Justicar will contact you soon. Either way, a Justicar will discuss the alleged crime with you and decide if a full investigation is in order.
2. If after investigating an alleged crime, the Justicars determine an arrest is necessary, they will issue a warrant.
3. Justicars or any person that wishes to serve as a "bounty hunter" can then go to the Justicars office and get a copy of the warrant.
4. The Justicar or bounty hunter must find the alleged criminal, serve him or her with the warrant, and return the warrant to the Justicars office to be properly processed. If this is done, the alleged criminal is now formally charged with the alleged crime.
5. At this point, the Justicars must submit a formal report regarding the incident and mail it to the Judge.

Judicial Phase

1. A member of the Justicars office is assigned to prosecute the case. This Justicar reads the official report and investigates the crime.
2. The prosecuting Justicar must decide if the case should be tried, plea bargained or dropped.
3. The Judge must approve any plea bargain or dropped case.
4. If the Justicar tries the case, he or she must submit the King's brief presenting evidence and argument why the defendant is guilty.
5. The Judge reads this brief. If the judge believes the Justicar has failed to present enough evidence to reasonably demonstrate his or her case, the Judge can acquit the defendant immediately. Otherwise, the Judge will send a copy of the Justicar's brief to either the defendant or the defendant's attorney (if the defendant has mailed the Clerk with the name of his or her attorney for the case).
6. Along with a copy of the brief, the Judge informs defense counsel of the time limit for submitting the defendant's brief. Failure to submit a brief will result in assuming that all evidence, arguments, and accusations are true, and they will be interpreted in the light most favorable to the King and Emperor.
7. Once the defense has submitted its brief, the Judge begins the deliberative process. At this point, the Judge can request additional briefs from either or both sides. The Judge can investigate evidence and interrogate witnesses. The parties can also request the right to submit additional briefs during this time period. If the judge desires, he may call for a bench or jury trial. This is entirely up to the Judge. A bench or jury trial can also be requested by either side, but the Judge has absolute discretion.
8. At any point during the deliberative process, the Judge can decree a verdict. The Judge can also decree a verdict at any point during a trial, even during a jury trial (thereby eliminating the jury altogether).

Sentencing Phase

1. Generally, the judge will decree the sentence. However, the Judge has the right to require either or both sides to submit a recommendation. The Judge can also receive a recommendation from a jury, or he may convene a jury solely for the process of generating a recommendation.
2. Once a sentence is pronounced it will be carried out forthwith and will be done so with divine speed and power.

Appellate Phase

1. If a defendant feels his rights under this system were violated he or she may appeal. The appeal must be sent to the Judge who must consent to the appeal.
2. You cannot appeal based on disagreeing with the Judge's verdict. You may only appeal if you believe the process was carried out incorrectly. If it is found that something was done incorrectly or improperly, this does not mean there will be an automatic reversal. Some errors are "harmless errors" and will not be considered significant enough to warrant a reversal of judgment.
3. Both sides of a criminal case can appeal (prosecution and defense).
4. Grantings of appeals are extraordinarily rare.
5. Remands (retrial of case) are exceedingly rare.
6. Reversals of the Judge's decision are exceptionally rare and virtually impossible to receive.