My thanks for Richard for putting this thread onto the TML so that we
can clog more mailboxes! :-)
I have an old Journal issue (not currently at hand) which had some
interesting things to say on this issue, with one article on police forces
and another entitled "High Justice." It made some points that I think will
help this discussion.
As an aside, this article made Admin the skill which makes one a lawyer -
which I find a bit strange, especially since the new Legal skill seems to
make it quite clear that it doesn't qualify one to be a lawyer. The question
then is, what does? If PCs can be doctors, engineers, bureaucrats, et al, why
not lawyers too? (I can see it now -- "If you've been injured in a spacecraft
accident, don't let your rights go unprotected! Call the firm of SETTLEMENTS
R US!") :-)
> "Crime" is subjective, and varies from planet to planet and
> sector to sector.
On a planetary scale, I'd agree. However, at least as far as the
old Journal article goes, after the local justice are the Subsector (Sector?)
courts and then the Imperial courts. As the "level" of the court increases,
the variation in law decreases.
> "Imperial" courts are almost always appelate. That is, if you
> don't like being railroaded by that LL13 religious oligarchy,
> you can, in theory, appeal for imperial intervention. What
> heppens then, is of course game material.
This is a good point. It is likely that appeals of planetary cases
would only make it to the lower levels of the Imperial courts, such as the
Subsector courts, barring truly unusual circumstances. (What follows is my
ramblings about how the Imperial courts might work.)
At the Subsector (Imperial) level, the courts would have original
jurisdiction for inter-planetary ordinary crimes (fraud, unlawful flight,
smuggling, etc.) and minor Imperial crimes (Violating planetary interdiction,
forgery of Imperial documents, bribery, etc.). Appellate jurisdiction of all
major planetary crimes (i.e. substantial jail/civil damages or capital case),
though at this and higher levels, a review is not at all assured.
At the Sector (Imperial) level, the courts would have original
jurisdiction for more serious Imperial crimes (illegal weapon trading,
violating the Imperial Rules of War, slave trading, murder of Imperial
officials or nobles, ecosystem destruction, etc.). Appellate jurisdiction of
Subsector cases, and if you've got connections or money or both, perhaps even
a planetary case.
The highest, true Imperial courts, would likely only have original
jurisdiction for the most henious Imperial crimes -- such as high treason,
sedition, or murder of an Archduke or the Emperor. Appellate jurisdiction of
Sector cases, a few Subsector cases, and a one in a million planetary case.
Given the nature of planetary law, the punishments and procedures
are highly variable -- especially at the higher levels (like the religious
dictatorships) I'm sure they can be quite creative... (All you have to do
to prove your innocence is fight little (ha hah) Og here. To the death.
With a butterknife. He gets a battleaxe. Questions?) :-)
At least at the Subsector level, trial by jury seems like a good
possibility. At higher levels, it's still possible, but a tribunal of
judges seems more likely - as befits the gravity and/or political stickiness
of the case. As for punishment, well, it's not a pretty sight. As the TAS
article suggested, for Imperial crimes it's generally measured in decades
in an Imperial prison (anyone remember the ex-Kinunir class ship, the Gaesh,
used as a prison hulk?) or a nice clean execution. For the WORST Imperial
crimes.... I doubt you'd last long.
That's enough of my ramblings for now. You'll have to excuse me,
I'm a lawyer-to-be. (William & Mary, here I come!)
One last ramble -- a particularly enjoyable game of classic Traveller
of mine was based on the "Prison Planet" adventure, which had PCs "visit" a
dreadful Imperial prison mining operation on a desert planet, which was a LONG
way from the only major city. (And only a class D starport to boot). If you
survived this prison, you were LUCKY or nearly dead...
- --
Nicholas Sylvain (sylvain$[email removed])
"Give me ten chocolate sundaes. I'm in a BAD mood." -- Q, Star Trek:TNG