Laws and justice of the Seven Kingdoms

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Although Westeros has Master of Laws, which suggest Statutory law, it largely dicatated by the westerosy Feudal System where there law depends largely on the social class you belong, unlike the highborn who cannot be denied trials under the law.[1] baseborn have few rights under the law, when it comes to claims.[2] It has little todo with justice, and more with each regional lord trying the peace as best they can in their lands.

Legal system

The lord of a region is the chief authority and can administer the king’s justice. It is a lord’s duty to keep the peace, hear petitions, and mete out justice and punishments, all in the name of his lord, and ultimately, in the name of the king. The lords may entrust the task to his landed lord and knights, and officers named bailiffs. such tasks as local judgements and overseeing hangings.[3] The Lord or his officers, would hold "local court", listens to petitions and accusations and rules based on the evidence, their wisdom and customary law. imposing fines or try, and punish upto "pit and gallows", gibbet, and mutilation.

“Pit and Gallows”, Described the authority given to dispense king's justice. lords, minor lords and landed knights have the right to carry out justice, but only Lords are given the right to administer the high justice for capital penalty, of imprisonment (the "pit"), and execute (the “gallows”).[4]

If the lord is unable to give sentencing it's up to the lord of the great house holding dominion in that area[5] with the king ranked at the top of the chain, effectively being the law, followed by the hand.

Legal proceeding

The legal majority for men and women is 16 [6]

unlike the small folk, highborn are allowed more elaborate trials, with several lords sitting to pronounce judgements, witnesses and cross-examinations... also in some case when the victim was one of the small folk, wisdom might dictate overlooking noblemen excess of exuberance, leaving him with only fine or no punishment at all.

In every event the accused my demand Trial by combat[1] or the less used Trial of seven. [7] or "Taking the black", join the Night’s Watch an alternative to criminal punishment.[8] By taking the black, one’s crimes are forgiven and he is exiled to the wall severing all previous thighs. though this course However women are not allowed to take the black. Also only a knight of the Kingsguard can champion a queen in a trial by battle if she has been accused of treason (IV: 647)

Trials, at least among the nobility, often begin with a prayer from a septon beseeching the Father Above to guide them towards justice.[9] the the accused and witness are sworn to honesty before he gives testimony at a trial.[9]

Of old, the High Septons might appoint seven judges to try a case, and if a woman was accussed, three of them might be women, representing maidens, mothers, and crones (IV: 645, 651)

Sentencing

The punishment for treason[10] and oathbreaking is death[11]. Poacher and thief may lose a hand, various mutilation for assault, castration for rape[12], and floggings are doled out for many minor offences.

Executions are usually carried out by hanging or beheading. For harsher crime the “crow cage” is used, in which the victim is imprisoned without food or water until death. Its name comes from the crows who often end up feasting on the criminal flesh.

Flogging are the common punishment for members of the lower social classes, it's severity determined by both the number of strokes.

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  2. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  3. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 22, Arya IV.
  4. TSS: 127. SSM: 1
  5. (THK: 507)
  6. (SSM: 1)
  7. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
  8. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  9. 9.0 9.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 66, Tyrion IX.
  10. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36, Davos IV.
  11. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
  12. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 13, Tyrion II.