The High Court is currently trying to rework its charter, a project that has taken several years mostly because of various problems. One of the issues that has been discussed is a penal code. Right now, the High Court has sort of a common law system where people base charges on what seems right. There are no actual written laws saying what is illegal or legal. Murder is illegal because it has always been treated that way. Same with treason, assault, etc. This system has worked, though sometimes it results in confusing or long charges list.

The other alternative is to codify it, much like the Britannian Rights of Citizens. Murder (1, 2, and manslaughter) would have to fit certain definitions. Crimes would have clear sentencing guidelines. Since this would be a very big thing, it would need to be ratified by the High Council much like the Rights of Citizens since it would certainly go beyond the Court's protocols and charter. Most likely the Royal Guard and others would have some input in the final document. It would also take a bit of work. I'm willing to write draft documents, but I want to make sure it is really wanted, needed, or useful.

Personally, I think it would be useful for Guards when drawing up charges lists, Prosecutors when coming up with a case against the accused, and Defenders for defending the accused. Written laws do have the advantage that they are clearly defined rather than the rather nebulus precedent we use now.

Someone else have an opinion?

the only problem that i could see with codifying a penal system that indepth would be the time and effort of the person(s) doing the actual coding. I am sure that more than a couple of us have some actual knowledge/experience in the criminal justice system and maybe sending an icq to one of them before listing charges would do the trick.