How does the Empire function without a relatively cohesive system of justice? There are none of the institutions and instruments of justice that one would expect to see in an Empire as mature and diverse as it is. There are no courthouses, advocates, bailiffs, magistrates, sheriffs, tribunals (not the Morrowind one) and the like.

The only justice related institutions/instruments I can think of are:

• The Hall of Justice in Morrowind (wasn't this just a library?)
• The Justiciars in Skyrim who were basically just sadistic interlopers
• The Eight/Nine who forgive crimes if the perpetrator repents (that sounds vaguely familiar)
• Guards who pronounce sentence without adequate legal representation and without letting the perp have his/her one scroll call
• Jails

If the Empire of Tamriel is based on the Roman Empire, and the Roman justice system is credited for holding the empire together, shouldn't a robust legal system have developed in Tamriel?

They're games dude, you mine as well ask why you don't find any bathrooms, they just aren't that relevant to actual gameplay.

Tamriel does have a court system which is made apparent in Daggerfall where if you commit a crime you have to go to court.

If you want to learn more about the legal system of Tamriel read http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/Legal_Basics.

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Added to the fact that Daggerfall had its own court system IIRC, the remark is made in Skyrim during the opening sequence that the empire wasn't even going to give Ulfric a fair trial. Legal institutions to some extent do in fact exist in Tamriel, but they're lack of inclusion in the game in favor of paying off fines and the like is due to a decision on the devs part.

I realise that, but much of the established lore doesn't make it into the game due to development reasons.

Don't agree with you here. There are many elements in the game (and CRPGs in general) that aren't relevant to actual gameplay. Usually they exist for flavor, immersion or cosmetic reasons.

Thanks - this is the sort of stuff I wanted to know about. I haven't played Daggerfall. Interesting that the basis of the legal system is "guilty until proven innocent".

Good point re Ulfric - I'd forgotten about that.

I don't think they have any bathrooms, I'm pretty sure they just take a [censored] in a hole

Thread hijacker...!

why do you think there are so many buckets everywhere?

That was exactly my point.

No, you said it was because they aren't relevant to actual gameplay, which my subsequent point effectively rebutted.

One way to paraphrase the OP is: development reasons aside (which should be a no-brainer considering this is a lore forum), what should we expect Tamriel's justice system to look like/consist of given established lore.

It would also be helpful for someone who might be considering creating a mod which simulates a justice system that reflects accepted Tamrelic lore.

I think the real problem here is that a court system would be INSANELY FUN. We should make this into a mod, but I don't have the ability to coordinate with the types who can do this.

"they just aren't that relevant to actual gameplay"

Of course the game would be improved had they included a court system. I'm just saying that it is not a needed system in-game. The game is fine with the courts being implied through lore rather than gameplay just like the existence of an Imperial cavalry and navy are.

The thread isn't about improving the game or gameplay or whether certain systems are needed in game or not. It's merely asking what sort of justice system is presented in the lore, taking into consideration that the Roman Empire was used as inspiration. We all know the actual game, by necessity, abstracts from reality (or the reality presented by the lore) so not everything that's mentioned in the lore will be included in the game.

My God, speechcraft would actually be useful.

Yeah, I was going to bring up the hurried nature of Ulfric's (attempted) execution.

From the whole affair, I get the impression that Legion officers of higher ranks probably have, in wartime, relatively free reign regarding the treatment of prisoners (acting as judges, jurors and executioners) and the soldiers under their command, likely based on some fairly detailed rules of engagement proclaimed by the Emperor or Elder Council. Whether Imperial generals were able to wave away trials for and sentence to death high profile figures under the Third Empire is anyone's guess. Perhaps that kind of martial law was only introduced under the Medes, with their origins as Colovian warlords.

Excellent point. Oh the possibilities...!