Court Charterman

Experts on Local Laws

His royal highness is crippled in bed, peasant. I am the law now and the law deems you responsible for poaching in woods that belong to the crown.
— Alfred, Court Charterman of Rieweck
  Court chartermen are lawspeakers who are employed by monarchs and their vassals. They memorize the charters of freedom and responsibilities that apply to their realm, look for ways to refine them, and offer judicial guidance to their employer. Court chartermen are well paid and receive special privileges that come with their rank. If their employer is unavailable to cast judgement or the realm is governed by a regent, the charterman is the only person who may deem people guilty or innocent.  

Responsibilities

In addition to the standard tasks of a typical lawspeaker, court chartermen must actively seek to improve the code of law. Regular meetings are held to discuss judicial and legislative matters between court chartermen and the younger lawspeakers who've been assigned to their service. Ideas generated by such meetings will be presented to the king or any other ruler that employs their own court charterman.     Chartermen coordinate efforts with other lawspeakers to ensure that local authorities enforce the law justly. If they or their subordinates discover proof of a figure of authority breaking or bending the law inappropriately, the court charterman must inform their employer.
Type
Civic, Professional
Alternative Naming
Royal Lawspeaker
Source of Authority
Employer
Length of Term
Lifetime
Law of Acgberth and Offa
Document | Jul 3, 2020

The Law of Acgberth and Offa is a set of legal provisions that originated from the Kingdom of Rieweck



Comments

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Jul 2, 2020 19:43 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

They sound really intimidating. Maybe it's just the quote at the top making it feel that way, or maybe it's because they know All The Law. Would not want to cross a court charterman!

Emy x
Explore Etrea
Jul 2, 2020 20:25 by Mihkel Rand

Some of them are less intimidating and pretty friendly and then there's Alfred. He doesn't seem like a pleasant chap or maybe he woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day

Creator of Lethea and Pekkola

Maker of Maps
Jul 2, 2020 22:17

That was such a neat article! I loved in particular that they have to "actively seek to improve the code of law".   I did have one question: what happens if it is their employer the one that is bending the law inappropriately?

Jul 2, 2020 22:33 by Mihkel Rand

If their employer is a vassal to someone (a king for example), the court charterman could potentially report them to them, but that might make finding employment harder in the future since not everyone wants to hire someone who could possibly bring their downfall.

Some court chartermen may also be a bit corrupt, and they could be convinced to ignore their employer's illegal activities for a bribe, other special benefits, or their employer could somehow threaten them.

Creator of Lethea and Pekkola

Maker of Maps
Jul 2, 2020 23:44

Just like in real life...

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