Law

Arginese law is set out by the Royal Council in the interests of maintaining an orderly society. It is based not on precedent but on statute and principles - each case is considered on its own merits.

Officers of the law

The law is applied by the magistrates or reeves, officials who are present in every town and city as well as making circuits of the countryside; they wear the symbol of an open eye as a mark of their position. They are selected by the Crown and are known to be scrupulously impartial.

Many places - including Fiveways - have a watch who are authorised to enforce the law and to bring suspects before the magistrates. These people are organised locally and usually not trained to such a high standard.

Trials

Both criminal and civil trials are conducted by the magistrates.

Criminal trials

At the start of a trial the accuser (who may be a watch officer or the magistrate themselves) reads the charges agains the accused. The accused then has the option to plead guilty or not guilty; if the former, a lighter sentence is often (though not always) applied, and if the latter, the magistrate will begin questioning to determine guilt.

The accused is expected to speak for themselves, and has no right to silence. The magistrate will take the statements of the accused into account, and may also call and question witnesses and request other forms of evidence.