Hermetic law

Hermetic law is founded in the Hermetic Oath and its interpretation through the Tribunals. It consists of the Code of Hermes itself, plus the body of case law as emodied in the Peripheral Code. The Regional Tribunals serve as courts, with the Grand Tribunal serving as a supreme court. Quaesitors serve as legal counsel, official investigators, and even field-judges on emergencies.

The application of Hermetic Law is hierarchical. The supreme authority is the Code of Hermes as interpreted by the First Tribunal and Grand Tribunals in their Peripheral Code. The lesser regional Tribunals determine their own laws in their own Peripheral Code, subject to this higher authority. Maintaining this principle is the task of the Presiding Quaesitor of the Tribunal.

All laws are determined and enforced by Tribunal sessions. The attending magi vote on any proposed new laws and on the merits of any case and any due punishment. If time is of importance, a Quaesitor can render summary judgment but it needs to be ratified by the next Tribunal session.

References

• The process of bringing a case to trial and the surounding legalities and customs are detailed in HoHTL, pages 56-61.
• See also the rules on Debate on HoHS, pages 90-91

External links

As fans, CJ and Kevin Sides discuss the game implications of The Code in the [[Arcane Connection (podcast)Episode 8: The Code of Hermes (35 minutes).