The Enforcement Act (proposal)

The Justice Act

Preamble: The purpose of this Act is to set out the methods through which the Magistrate may prosecute, as well as to define common crimes as well as their usual punishments, to serve as warning to those who would defy them.

I. The Magistrate may choose to override any part of this act regarding the execution of justice. Trials, juries, investigations, etc. Are done by the Magistrate, and are done at the Magistrate's discretion. Should the Magistrate be the accused, the Sovereign will take on their role.

II. His Majesty the King may choose to pardon anyone accused or convicted of crimes against the Crown, or the nobility. His Majesty the King may not be accused, convicted, or punished for any crimes noted within, and is above the rule of law.

III. All crimes fall under two major categories; crimes against the Crown, or against nobles. For crimes against nobles, the victim themselves must accuse, and may drop charges at any junction.

IV. Vassals given direct orders to commit crimes by their liege may only be pardoned in the case of crimes against nobles. Lieges who order the perpetration of crimes are equally guilty of the crime.

V. Guilt by association will be considered equal to guilt.

VI. Definitions of crimes:

Crimes against the Crown:

I. Crimes against the crown are classified either as high or petty treason.

II. High treason is punishable with execution, deportation, stripping of lands or titles, or banishment. In cases where the traitor committed their deed with great malice and ignoble actions, they may be stripped of their nobility and considered a rogue, and will be treated as such, no matter where they go.

a) Rebellion: Directly calling for, or assisting in, or sympathizing with, an open armed rebellion against the Sovereign. Sympathy may be charged as petty treason.

b) Espionage: Sending critical military, economic, political, etc. Information to a foreign noble be he friend, family, or enemy, without first having consent from His Majesty the King, or one's marshal in military matters.

c) Sedition: Any attempt to undermine the authority of the Crown through written or spoken language.

d) Defying royal orders: Failure to complete a royal mandate to the best of one's ability.

III. Petty treason, due to its often unintentional nature, can be punished with anything from fines to banishment. All petty treasons may be tried as high treasons under extreme circumstances.

a) Sabotage: The theft or destruction of Crown property, or private property being used in service to the Crown.

b) Routing: Fleeing from the field of battle out of cowardice.

c) Damaging foreign relations: Hurting relations in any way between Pian En Luries and her allies, vassal states, infederated allies, trading partners, neutral states, and even states at war with Luria, without direct orders from military or royal command.

d) Perjury: Lying to the Magistrate or a jury, during an investigation or trial.

Crimes against nobles:

a) (Attempted) murder: This is not dependant on success of the attempt. The attack, outside the field of battle or the ring of honor, on the person of another member of Pianese nobility, or any of her allies. Nobles of enemy states are typically banished without trial, while members of allied or neutral states, as well as Pian En Lurians, are given one. Should the victim die in the attempt, the Crown will prosecute. Punishment will usually be deportation or death.

b) Deceit: Purposefully lying to one's liege, for any reason, be it personal gain or patriotism, without direct orders from His Majesty the King. Punished with whatever the liege in question feels is necessary, with no limit as to the severity of the punishment. Usually done without trial.

c) Slander: Insult given onto another using mistruths, but not done in such a way as to be considered ignoble. Fines are the usual sentence.

d) Insulting Nobility: Insulting or calling into question the nobility, heritage, blood, or station of a fellow member of nobility. Should the victim fail to defend their honor in a suitable fashion, the insult will be considered as having merit and the prosecution will be discontinued. Punishable with trial by combat, or, in cases of cowardice where the insulter fails to defend their accusation, public defamation, fines, or even banishment.

e) Theft / Destruction: The theft or destruction of a fellow noble's properties, either through their own hand, or through direct orders given to vassals, mercenaries, soldiers, or assassins.

f) Dishonorable conduct: Not behaving in a manner befitting one's station. They may be asked publicly to defend their honor against their accuser, or a champion of the accuser, in a duel to the death. Should they refuse, punishment will be metted out according to the degree of their dishonor.

g) Dishonorable duelling: Fighting in the ring of honor in a fashion considered dishonorable- using hidden weapons, throwing sand in the eyes of an opponent, etc. Punishable at the victim's discretion. Should the victim die in said duel, the Crown will prosecute to the full extent of their capabilities.