Arbitration
Seignorial justice
The most widely accepted formal method for resolving legal disputes among the Bediz is the notion of "Seigniorial Justice", derived from the concept of Sovereignty. All laws, an exercise of rightful power over a land and its inhabitants, is drawn from the Sovereign, and carried out by deputies of this ruler. This power typically resides in a King or Ard Banrí/Ard Rí , but is found in increasingly local and smaller increments for any landed noble over their holdings. Traditionally, the Sovereign themselves are the arbiters of Justice, however the realities of modern political complexities has led to the delegation of powers and assignment of proxies more convenient in proximity, knowledge and cost to the average litigant.
While nobles down the line possess power over smaller and smaller areas, in many larger and more populated estates, seneschals and ministers, trusted agents tasked with the dissemination and enforcement of noble decrees, carry out most day to day judgements, as well as the administration of local affairs such as the maintenance of roads, setting of weights and measures and management of markets and trade. Legal arbitrations exist on three levels, as follows:
High Justice - The lord can judge all disputes and pronounce all punishments, including the Right of the Sword (capital punishment)
Middle Justice - The lord can judge disputes arising from brawls, insults and robberies. Capital punishment is not applicable here.
Low Justice - The lord can judge cases relating to owed taxes, contracts, inheritance, and minor offenses, such as damage to animals or offenses with fines less than 7 Sol, 6 Deniers.
Only a sovereign lord can enact high justice, while an appointed agent can enact average and low justice, should a seigniory be large enough to support this level of delegation.
Ecclesiastic Justice
Fair Justice
Enforcement
Most disputes are investigated and resolved on the local level within the hamlets and villages in which the actions occurs or the parties resolve. Enforcement of High Justice, or Middle Justice related to disturbances of the peace and against the property of the nobility may be carried out by the lord or their deputies, either with a standing garrison or a summoned posse. Larger cities and more powerful nobles may have a dedicated force, such as a city watch or a Maréchaussée for larger regions. The latter, first seen in the Kingdom of Gallia, is a fairly new organizational development, covering larger areas in the service of the King's Peace. In many regions, this latter serves more as a military police than a public police force, cracking down on deserters and the threats posed by the Free-Companies.
In Letha, Andium and Sardia, kuzuliad wear Biretta
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