The City Court

Most cutters in the Cage hope they never have reason to go to the City Court. See, a body seldom has a reason to visit 'cept if he's got to pay a municipal fine or if the Harmonium's nabbed him for a crime too severe for even a high-jink penalty. 'Course, for the Guvners, it's a different story. The Fraternity of Order uses the City Court as its headquarters, and faction members think there's no better place in Sigil.    The imposing Court building stands in the heart of The Lady's Ward. (The Guvners consider this location a sure sign that the Lady's pleased with them.) This foreboding structure rises only two stories above its huge granite foundation, but its tower climbs three stories higher. Within, the Guvners manage Sigil's judiciary system and maintain the faction's bureaucracy.    The Harmonium keeps the neighborhood around the City Court orderly. Taverns serve bashers just killing time before their court appearances, and nearby scribes await court-related duties. Although the Guvners will provide each accused sod with an advocate from the faction, freelance advocates from other groups hawk their skills outside the building. All day long, people flow steadily into the City Court as fast as others exit.   Once up the Great Stairs and past the proud marble pillars flanking the outside of the entry, a basher crosses a Promenade packed shoulder-to-shoulder with accused criminals. Harmonium agents, and Clueless. Pushing through the throng, a cutter can make it to a reception area to pay fines for minor infractions. 'Course, he has to shout to make himself heard above the din of the masses clamoring in the Promenade, which encircles the building on this, its main floor.    And that's the lucky basher. More serious offenses go to trial, most of' which take place in Ward Court, held in one of the lesser court rooms on every floor of the building and tower. Lesser court defendants who fail to arrive promptly pick up a line for tardiness. But, sods destined to appear in the Grand Court never arrive late — the Harmonium bailiffs escorting them from the City Jail see to that. The Grand Court — with its shiny wood, gilt fixtures, and mosaics celebrating justice — houses more spectacular cases and all appeals.    Sure, appeals are possible, though the Guvners deny most of 'em — they know all the laws, so once a judge from the Fraternity of Order makes a ruling, it's the right one, see? Counsel can appeal a case up the chain from the initial Ward Court hearing to High Court (held in the Grand Court chamber), then to the Bureau Chief of the Ad Hoc Bureau of Courts, and finally, to Factol Hashkar. The factol hasn't had to deal with an appeal for a decade now because the Bureau Chief, Janis, stops any that reach her.    Attached to each courtroom is a private chamber: a meeting and study room for the judges and counsels of the cases on trial nearby. Bureau Chiefs (factors), serve as judges, and Administrators (factotums) provide legal representation. The factol likes to sit in chambers adjacent to the Grand Court, reading. Bureau Chief Jamis spends much of her time in this area, too, researching or consulting.