Preamble

These laws are established to maintain peace, prosperity, and justice within the city of Neverwinter, protecting its citizens, visitors, and the fundamental principles of civic harmony.

Title I: Civic Governance

Chapter 1: Citizenship and Rights

1. All residents of Neverwinter aged 16 and above are granted citizenship, regardless of race, magical ability, or origin.
2. Citizens are entitled to:
3. Equal protection under the law
4. Right to petition the city council
5. Freedom of movement within city limits
6. Protection from arbitrary arrest
7. Non-citizen visitors are guaranteed basic human rights and temporary legal protections.

Chapter 2: City Council and Leadership

1. The City Council shall consist of nine elected representatives:
2. Four representing merchant guilds
3. Two representing magical institutions
4. Two representing general citizenry
5. One representing the city's defense forces
6. Council members serve four-year terms, with elections held every two years to ensure partial rotation.
7. The Lord Protector serves as the executive head of the city, elected by the City Council for a six-year term.

Title II: Criminal Law

Chapter 1: Serious Crimes

1. Murder shall be punishable by:
2. Execution for premeditated murder
3. 20 years imprisonment for manslaughter
4. Mandatory magical rehabilitation for murders committed under magical influence
5. Assault resulting in serious injury shall be punished by:
6. 10-15 years imprisonment
7. Mandatory restitution to the victim
8. Magical crimes involving:
9. Unauthorized mind control: 15-20 years imprisonment
10. Necromancy: Immediate magical suppression and 25-year imprisonment
11. Destructive spell casting in public spaces: Fines and 5-10 years imprisonment

Chapter 2: Property Crimes

1. Theft shall be punished by:
2. Return of stolen goods
3. Compensation to the victim
4. Imprisonment based on value of stolen items:
5. Minor theft (under 50 gold): 1-2 years
6. Significant theft (50-500 gold): 3-5 years
7. Grand theft (over 500 gold): 5-10 years
8. Magical theft of intellectual property or spell components carries additional penalties.

Title III: Economic Regulations

Chapter 1: Trade and Commerce

1. All merchants must be registered with the Neverwinter Trade Guild.
2. Standard trade tariffs:
3. Local goods: 5% tax
4. Imported goods: 10-15% tax, varying by origin
5. Minimum wage established for all workers, adjusted annually.
6. Mandatory fair trade practices, with penalties for price gouging or market manipulation.

Chapter 2: Magical Commerce

1. All magical businesses must be licensed by the Arcane Regulatory Commission.
2. Spell component trading requires special permits.
3. Magical service providers must display clear pricing and potential risks.

Title IV: Public Safety and Order

Chapter 1: City Defense

1. Mandatory military service of two years for all citizens between ages 18-25.
2. City guard authorized to:
3. Maintain public order
4. Respond to magical and physical threats
5. Conduct investigations with judicial oversight
6. Establishment of rapid response magical intervention teams.

Chapter 2: Environmental and Magical Safety

1. Strict regulations on spell casting in public spaces.
2. Mandatory magical safety courses for spell casters.
3. Controlled zones for high-risk magical experiments.

Title V: Judicial Procedures

Chapter 1: Legal Rights

1. Right to a fair trial by a jury of peers.
2. Access to legal representation.
3. Protection against self-incrimination.
4. Magical truth-detection limited to serious criminal cases with judicial approval.

Chapter 2: Sentencing and Rehabilitation

1. Emphasis on rehabilitative justice.
2. Magical criminals required to undergo magical rehabilitation.
3. Work release and community service programs available.
4. Restorative justice practices encouraged.

Title VI: Hall of Justice and Judicial System

Chapter 1: Structure of the Hall of Justice

1. The Hall of Justice serves as the primary judicial institution of Neverwinter, responsible for:
2. Conducting fair and impartial trials
3. Interpreting and upholding the city's legal code
4. Protecting the rights of both citizens and visitors
5. Organizational Structure:
6. Chief Magistrate: Highest judicial authority, elected by the City Council for a ten-year term
7. Associate Magistrates: Six judges who serve alongside the Chief Magistrate
8. Judicial Investigators: Specialized legal officers who conduct preliminary investigations
9. Magical Arbiters: Specialized judges trained in magical law and arcane investigations

Chapter 2: Trial Procedures

Section 1: Trial Types

1. Criminal Trials
2. Conducted for serious criminal offenses
3. Jury composed of nine citizens, selected randomly from different social and professional backgrounds
4. Jury must represent a cross-section of Neverwinter's diverse population
5. Civil Trials
6. Resolve disputes between citizens, organizations, or entities
7. Presided over by a panel of three magistrates
8. Focus on mediation and fair resolution
9. Magical Tribunals
10. Specialized courts for cases involving magical crimes or disputes
11. Includes at least one Magical Arbiter
12. Additional protections for magical evidence and testimonies

Section 2: Trial Rights

1. Fundamental Rights of the Accused:
2. Right to a public trial
3. Right to legal representation
4. Right to remain silent
5. Right to challenge jurors for bias
6. Right to magical and non-magical evidence examination
7. Magical Testimony Regulations:
8. Truth-detection spells only admissible with explicit consent
9. Magical memory examination strictly regulated
10. Protections against invasive magical interrogation techniques

Section 3: Sentencing Guidelines

1. Sentencing Principles:
2. Proportionality to the crime
3. Consideration of rehabilitation potential
4. Victim impact assessment
5. Magical and non-magical crime distinctions
6. Sentencing Options:
7. Imprisonment
8. Magical rehabilitation
9. Community service
10. Restitution
11. Magical skill restriction
12. Combination of multiple sentencing types

Chapter 3: Appeals and Review Processes

Section 1: Appeals Mechanism

1. Right to Appeal:
2. Convicted individuals may appeal within 30 days of sentencing
3. Appeals reviewed by a higher judicial panel
4. New evidence can be introduced during appeal process
5. Appeal Types:
6. Standard Appeal: Review of trial procedures
7. Extraordinary Appeal: Based on significant new evidence
8. Magical Intervention Appeal: Specific to cases with magical complications

Section 2: Judicial Review

1. Periodic Review of Sentences:
2. Mandatory review of long-term sentences every three years
3. Opportunity for sentence modification based on rehabilitation progress
4. Special considerations for magical rehabilitation programs
5. External Oversight:
6. City Council maintains oversight of judicial processes
7. Annual judicial performance reviews
8. Mechanism for removing magistrates for misconduct

Chapter 4: Special Judicial Provisions

Section 1: Extraordinary Circumstances

1. Magical Emergency Protocols:
2. Special judicial powers during magical threats
3. Temporary suspension of certain rights with strict oversight
4. Immediate judicial review of emergency measures
5. Diplomatic and Inter-Racial Disputes:
6. Special procedures for trials involving non-Neverwinter citizens
7. Diplomatic immunity considerations
8. Collaborative resolution mechanisms

Section 2: Juvenile and Rehabilitation Justice

1. Juvenile Judicial System:
2. Separate court for individuals under 18
3. Focus on rehabilitation and education
4. Sealed records to protect future opportunities
5. Magical Rehabilitation Programs:
6. Specialized programs for young magic users
7. Counseling and skill redirection
8. Gradual reintegration into society

Amended and Approved by the Neverwinter Hall of Justice

Amendments and Modifications

1. Legal code subject to annual review by City Council.
2. Citizens may propose amendments through formal petition process.
3. Emergency modifications possible with two-thirds council approval.

Sealed and Proclaimed by the Authority of the Neverwinter City Council