Law, Human Rights and democracy in the Wizarding World

[lenmachine]

No: HPFGUIDX 31087

Jenett wrote:

> It does seem like we have evidence suggestion that there is *not* 
an 
> obvious civil court system. I don't have GoF with me at the moment, 
but it 
> seems like if there *were* an obvious civil court option, that Fred 
and 
> George would have mentioned it re: the whole thing with Bagman.

I don't have GoF on me either, but I don't think that a failure to 
mention something in passing counts as "evidence" suggesting that the 
thing therefore does not exist. (Can we get a L.O.O.N ruling on this 
one ? :-) )

Anyway, I'm a lawyer (well, OK, an unemployed one), and unless I'm 
talking about something in particular, I rarely mention the civil 
system "in passing." :-)

On the other hand, we have Buckbeak's hearing in PoA to suggest that 
at the very least administrative-type hearings exist. Not only that, 
appeals are available.

And lest someone criticize the impartiality of the ministers involved 
in *that* proceeding, let's not forget that Lucius Malfoy wasn't 
shown to have actually bribed the judges. Influenced them, yes. 
Believe me, it happens in the real world often enough -- rich people 
hire rich lawyers (heck, Lucius Malfoy probably *is* a lawyer. :-) ), 
and unpopular groundskeepers have to appear pro se. And more often 
than not, the rich guys win. That's a fact of life HRH have learned. 


Sincerely,

Emily A. Chen