On Trial

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 44678

Erasmus wrote:
 
> i> I agree that the trials are lacking in a standard of justice. I 
would 
> i> imagine, though, that it's really difficult to prove anything for 
> i> sure in a magical world, and that the jurists must base their
> i> decisions mostly on intuition.

And Dave added:
 
> One word: "Veritaserum".  Yet they they almost never use it, and
> depend on, as you say, "intuition" -- "You only have to look at 
Sirius
> Black to tell that he's a murderer."  Quod Erat Demonstradum.

Erasmus again:

> i> I agree that the trials are lacking in a standard of justice. I 
would 
> i> imagine, though, that it's really difficult to prove anything for 
> i> sure in a magical world, and that the jurists must base their 
> i> decisions mostly on intuition. The defendants are given an 
> i> opportunity to speak, but without defense council, it's likely 
very 
> i> hard to gather evidence to prove their innocence. I think that in 
> i> cases where the defendent has something unexpected to say, 
further 
> i> investigation may be called for to see if the claims can be 
verified. 

And Dave:

> Whereas we vile Muggles have Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, and
> "innocent until proven guilty".   Frankly, I think that if I ever
> got a letter from Hogwarts I'd tear it up, 'cause the Magical world
> is not all it's cracked up to be.


Me finally:

I got the impression that the trials that took place during 
Voldemort's reign were not at all typical of wizarding trials.  After 
all, when Sirius mentioned that he was sent to Azkaban without a 
trial, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are horrified.  For something like 
that to occur was as unheard of to these three wizards as it is to us 
Muggles.  It was a time of panic, and the WW repsponded drastically.  
The same thing occurrs here in the Muggle world (just watch justice 
systems change following terrorist attacks).

-Corinth