The court system exists to create serious, immersive, and meaningful legal roleplay. Courtrooms give players a place to:

• Challenge charges
• Resolve disputes
• Argue cases
• Establish precedent
• Continue stories that began elsewhere in the city

They are not a place for trolling, OOC arguments, or intentionally low-effort roleplay.

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Courtroom Roleplay Standards

Court hearings and official legal proceedings should be treated with a reasonable level of seriousness. That does not mean every courtroom scene needs to be emotionless or perfectly formal. Characters may:

• Become frustrated
• Argue passionately
• Challenge testimony
• Disagree with a Judge
• Be difficult witnesses
• Create dramatic legal moments

All of that can create good roleplay. The problem begins when the behavior stops serving the scene and becomes intentionally disruptive.

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Disrupting Court Proceedings

Disruptive characters may first face in-character consequences. Examples include:

• Warnings from the Judge
• Removal from the courtroom
• Contempt of Court
• Other appropriate IC consequences

However, intentionally trolling proceedings, refusing to participate seriously, or repeatedly disrupting legal RP may become an OOC roleplay-quality issue.

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DOJ & Law Enforcement Are Roleplay Partners

The Department of Justice and law enforcement are not automatically your enemies because your character is facing charges or involved in a legal dispute. Likewise, citizens and defendants are not automatically enemies of the DOJ or law enforcement. Everyone involved should approach legal RP as a collaborative interaction. Players are encouraged to:

• Challenge charges
• Question evidence
• File lawsuits
• Argue against government action
• Appeal decisions
• Hold officials accountable
• Build adversarial storylines

Those conflicts should remain in character.

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Resolve OOC Issues Before Trial

Mechanical, technical, or rule-related disputes should be resolved before a trial begins whenever reasonably possible. Court should not become the place where players suddenly begin arguing over:

• Desync
• “Not in my eyes” situations
• Alleged metagaming
• Script or mechanic disputes
• Technical errors
• Evidence affected by server issues
• Other OOC concerns affecting the case

If an issue could significantly affect the proceeding, address it before everyone reaches the courtroom.

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When an OOC Issue Cannot Be Resolved

If the involved players cannot reasonably resolve an OOC issue themselves, use the appropriate staff ticket or reporting process. Do not derail a trial with prolonged OOC arguments. When staff involvement is necessary, the proceeding may be delayed or handled as directed by staff. Resolve OOC problems OOC and legal arguments IC.

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Judicial Neutrality

Judges are expected to remain neutral and impartial. A Judge may:

• Disagree with an attorney
• Rule against a party
• Reject an argument
• Exclude evidence
• Issue an unfavorable verdict
• Interpret the law differently than a player expected

None of those things alone establish bias.

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Concerns About Judicial Bias

If a player believes a Judge acted improperly, the concern should be addressed through the appropriate DOJ or OOC review process. Do not turn the active courtroom proceeding into an OOC argument about the Judge. When credible bias or serious judicial misconduct is established, DOJ leadership may take appropriate action such as:

• Reviewing the proceeding
• Replacing the presiding Judge
• Suspending the Judge
• Conducting disciplinary review
• Taking other appropriate corrective action

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DOJ Corruption Roleplay

Corruption involving Department of Justice personnel is treated differently from many other corruption storylines. DOJ positions may have significant influence over:

• Court records
• Legal outcomes
• Warrants
• Evidence
• Protected information
• The rights of other characters

Because of that, DOJ corruption is heavily restricted.

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Prior Approval

Corruption involving DOJ officials generally requires prior staff approval before the storyline begins. This may include corruption involving:

• Attorneys
• Prosecutors
• Clerks
• DOJ support personnel
• Other positions with access to protected judicial systems or information

Approval should be based around a developed storyline rather than a request to gain access to corrupt mechanics. A proposal should demonstrate:

• Meaningful roleplay buildup
• A clear storyline
• Reasonable motivation
• Opportunities for other players to become involved
• An understanding of the limitations of the role

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Corruption Must Serve the Story

Approved corruption should create:

• Risk
• Consequences
• Investigations
• Character development
• Additional roleplay

It may not exist simply to benefit:

• Friends
• Gang members
• Alternate characters
• Business partners
• Other favored players

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Judicial Corruption

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Judges May Not Be Corrupt

Judicial corruption is prohibited. Judges may not:

• Accept bribes
• Secretly coordinate case outcomes
• Manipulate verdicts
• Intentionally suppress valid evidence for personal benefit
• Alter sentences through corrupt agreements
• Abuse judicial authority to assist criminal organizations
• Intentionally undermine the integrity of the court

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Attorney Corruption

Attorneys may participate in certain unethical or corrupt storylines when properly approved. Possible examples include:

• Questionable business relationships
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest
• Shady client arrangements
• Other ethically compromised behavior

Approved attorney corruption does not provide unlimited permission to sabotage the justice system. Attorneys remain subject to:

• Bar rules
• Court procedure
• DOJ oversight
• Applicable criminal law
• The terms of the approved storyline

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Clerks & DOJ Support Staff

Clerks and other support personnel may not use privileged access to manipulate court systems without an approved storyline. Restricted conduct includes improperly:

• Falsifying records
• Deleting filings
• Destroying evidence
• Altering case information
• Manipulating official documents
• Providing protected information
• Using privileged systems to benefit another party

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Unauthorized DOJ Corruption

Unauthorized DOJ corruption is considered a serious rules violation. Possible consequences may include:

• Immediate removal from a DOJ position
• Suspension or revocation of a bar license
• Removal of DOJ permissions
• OOC disciplinary action
• Permanent restriction from future DOJ roles

Additional disciplinary action may apply depending on the underlying conduct.

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Approved Corruption Still Has Limits

Staff approval does not suspend normal roleplay expectations. Characters participating in an approved corruption storyline must still:

• Maintain quality roleplay
• Respect established limits
• Avoid mechanic abuse
• Maintain IC/OOC separation
• Accept reasonable consequences
• Follow all other applicable server rules

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Keep Problems in the Right Place

The court system works best when attorneys, Judges, law enforcement, witnesses, and defendants are allowed to perform their roles without every unfavorable ruling becoming an OOC dispute. Argue the case. Challenge the evidence. Tell the story. Leave the OOC drama outside the server.