text, filtered to Ky Kiske

[withoutasign]

HELLO, KY. I HOPE TODAY FINDS YOU WELL.

IF YOU'VE GOT TIME, I'D LIKE TO MEET AND TALK ABOUT TRIALS AND HOW JUSTICE WORKS IN HUMAN SOCIETIES. WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT?

Comments

Text;

[closedcircuit]

Yes, now would be fine.

Although there are other humans here whose societies function differently. I can only speak for my own.

Text;

[withoutasign]

THAT'S FINE; I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN JURIES.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET AT THE TEA SHOP OFF THE PLAZA?

Text;

[closedcircuit]

Yes, that sounds very nice. I'll be there soon.

[Tea is one of the few things Ky actually indulges in for relaxation, so he's quite happy to meet Signless there.]

action forever

[withoutasign]

[Signless doesn't answer. Instead, he leaves his hive and heads down to the Plaza. By the time Ky gets there, he's settled in at the tea shop, a small pot of jasmine tea steeping near his hand.]

[He waves.]

Over here!

[closedcircuit]

[Ky waves back, and approaches. He settles in another seat at the table, giving Signless a smile that attempts to offer sympathy.]

How are things with you? A little better? I hope.

[withoutasign]

Better, yes.

[Signless pours Ky a cup of tea. Everyone likes jasmine tea, this is just a truth about life.]

There are still some unsorted issues floating around, though, and that's why I wanted to talk to you.

[closedcircuit]

[As far as Ky is concerned, jasmine is in fact quite a good tea, and he picks up his cup and takes a sip as Signless starts.]

Of course. I want to help, in any way that I can.

[withoutasign]

And I certainly appreciate that, although things have calmed down considerably by now. All those involved have been subdued and calmed down, and are agreeing to not fight in the future.

[closedcircuit]

That's a good sign. Do you think they'll maintain their agreement?

[withoutasign]

I'm going to do my very best to ensure that they do.

[Signless stirs his tea idly.]

So tell me about juries. How exactly do juries work?

[closedcircuit]

Juries listen to the evidence and arguments presented by both sides and in the end determine whether the accused party is guilty or not, as well as what the punishment should be if they are. They are ideally unbiased, and are chosen to be similar to the people involved in the trial, rather than being somehow abstracted from the situation by being specifically educated in the matter of law.

[withoutasign]

But if they're not familiar with the law, how will they make good decisions? And if they're too similiar to the people involved in the trial, won't they already be biased?

[closedcircuit]

There's a judge who determines things like admissibility of evidence. And the point of it being a people similar rather than the same judge determining guilt all the time is that they won't become jaded to it, that every group of people will examine the trial as though it matters. As long as they're not similar to the defendant but not the victim, or the other way around, then they're not going to be biased. They're simply going to be able to understand where everyone is coming from.

[withoutasign]

How do they choose people for juries?

[closedcircuit]

It's usually a randomly selected segment of the population, and then the representatives for both sides have a chance to ask them questions to insure that they're not biased.

sob... these conversations always end up with Signless giving him the third degree

[withoutasign]

Do they always tell the truth when they answer the questions? What if they don't want to be in a jury?

Ky's happy to answer

[closedcircuit]

They don't always, of course, I'm sure. But they are obligated to, and they do risk standing in contempt of court and being fined or arrested if they lie.

And if they don't want to be in a jury... then it's still their duty to see justice served, at least in the history of juries as I know them. I think for implementation in a place like this it would be better to make jury duty voluntary.

[withoutasign]

[Signless thinks all this over.]

Who would serve as the judge? Is there anyone here who is qualified to do that? Also, what law system would be follow, considering we're all from different worlds?

[closedcircuit]

Who would serve as judge would depend in part on the legal system we would create. And we'd have to create a new one, given the differences from one world to another.

[withoutasign]

So then you're suggesting everyone should get together, discuss their legal systems, and create one that would be a blend of all the different ones here.

Sounds like a lot of work. I'm in.

[closedcircuit]

I've been trying to lay the groundwork, although it's difficult in part because I know there are people who will express disinterest until such time as it actually concerns them.

Your assistance would be appreciated, not least because your people are one of those groups I have trouble reaching.

[withoutasign]

The justice system on Alternia... it can't even really be called justice, as it serves to keep those in power where they are, and everyone else under their bootheel. I will do what I can to bring them around, but I'll tell you now: some of them will not.

[closedcircuit]

I understand. And some of them will only be convinced once we have a system in place and it can be demonstrated to work, I'm sure.

[withoutasign]

Yes, that is very true. I'm hoping it won't take another murder to convince them, though.

[closedcircuit]

That sort of hope is what we should all have, and we can only hope that it's enough.

[withoutasign]

I'll do my part. But first we need to come up with a system. Do you have any ideas?

[closedcircuit]

I've been looking into it some, yes. I think in general as well as here, it's better to presume innocence until people are proven guilty, and it might be useful to outline what would be reasonable sentences, since even house arrest requires significant logistical effort. I have Minato's permission to ask the Defense Force on an individual basis if they're willing to work as police force as well. That's about how far I've gotten, so far.

[withoutasign]

Innocent until proven guilty... I like that. It's novel, but I really like it!

[Sorry, Ky, he's gotten hung up on that point.]

Does that work in human societies?

[closedcircuit]

[ Ky doesn't mind, since it means he's thinking about what Ky said. ]

It works better than alternatives, in my opinion. It doesn't do so 100% of the time, but nothing would.

[withoutasign]

On Alternia, we just assume everyone is guilty, and there's very little proof needed to get someone culled.

[closedcircuit]

Do you have trials at all?

[withoutasign]

Yes, but our trials are based more on blood color and how well you can bribe the legislacerators. It's justice for the few at the expense of the many.

[closedcircuit]

That sounds rather unpleasant. I'm sorry.

[withoutasign]

It was. That was what I was fighting against. I wanted an Alternia with justice and peace for everyone, not just the highbloods.

[closedcircuit]

That makes perfect sense to me, of course. And in this place...this is why we all need to work together, so justice can be the same for everyone regardless of where they come from.

[withoutasign]

I couldn't agree more.

[closedcircuit]

That's an important first step, I suppose. Is there anything else specifically I can explain to you that would help?

[withoutasign]

Not at the moment, no. If you want to begin writing up some ideas for the justice system we could create, I'd be very interesting in seeing them.

[closedcircuit]

I'll start on it.