Trial of Assessment

A Trial of Assessment was in days long gone by a special proceeding of the Landsraad during which it judged a ruler of a subdivision on zir own merits.

History

Trials of Assessment were usually called for in the event that a Kaiser was dissatisfied with the performance of a Ruling Noble, but it would be too controverial a move to oust such Duke or Baron by means of an Imperial Decree.

The best-known instance of a Trial of Assessment is the trial of Duchess Mari Greenwood of Elwynn in 1487-1488 AN, which resulted in Elwynn being demoted from a Duchy to a Barony (See Elwynnese Trial of Assessment).

Present Situation

The legal concept of a Trial of Assessment was largely rendered obsolete when the Duchies of Shireroth became Imperial States in 1583 and in consequence thereof the administration of those Imperial Subdivisions was from then on beyond the control of the Kaiser and Landsraad.

Under present Shirithian Law, the ruler of an Imperial Dominion could in theory still be put on a Trial of Assessment before the Landsraad, but to this very day such action has not been taken (yet).