Lion Of Judah, on 17 December 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:
Defendant: Robb Stark Lord of Winterfell, King in the North alias 'The Young Wolf,' this court charges you with the crimes of
1. Conspiracy by calling your bannermen to war against the king of the 7 Kingdoms Joffrey Baratheon first of his name.
2. Acts of treason by rebellion against the realm.
3. Breach of a legal binding agreement with house Frey.
4. And the murder Stafford Lannister alias ‘Uncle Dolt’.
Counselors present your case and pass your judgement!
On counts 1, 2, and 4, Robb Stark is
not guilty on three major grounds:
First, that Joffrey was not the lawful King of Westeros, but a bastard who was the product of treasonous incest between Cersei and Jaime Lannister. The result of this incest and the discovery of it was the murder of the lawful King, Robert Baratheon, the murder of the Hand of the King, Eddard Stark of Winterfell (father of the defendant in this case), the murder of many true loyalists and Stark retainers, and a coup by House Lannister which usurped the throne. As a secondary matter, the coup also resulted in the capture and unlawful detention and torture of the defendant's sister Sansa Stark or Winterfell, and the same was presumed for his other sister, Arya Stark of Winterfell.
Second, that Tywin Lannister, and House Lannister and its retainers in general, waged unlawful war against the Riverlands, contrary to the laws and wishes of the true King, Robert Baratheon. This war of aggression and the consequent atrocities committed in the name of House Lannister, and then subsequently in the name of the false king Joffrey also invalidate any claim that the actions of Robb Stark were unlawful. Furthermore, Tywin of House Lannister had been called to King's Landing answer for these crimes against the Riverlands by Eddard Stark, who was lawfully Hand of the King, or else be considered an attainted traitor. As Tywin chose not the answer the summons and continue his actions contrary to the laws of the true King Robert Baratheon, he was committing treason, and therefore any military actions taken against House Lannister by any pesron could be considered lawful actions in defense of the realm.
Therefore, on the first two grounds, the court must find that the actions of House Lannister collectively required a full military response, and the actions of Robb Stark and his retainers should be considered legitimate self-defense in regard to both House Stark and the realm in general. This justifies all legitimate military actions taken as a matter of war, putting it outside the purview of the criminal justice system.
The third grounds for acquittal are that the sovereignty of the Iron Throne ended when the lords of the North and Riverlands declared Robb Stark "King In The North", and any actions taken by Robb Stark since that time were to be counted as within as separate sovereign territory which was in a state of war against the Iron Throne. Additionally, House Lannister could claim no sovereignty by blood over the Iron Throne, as all ties to the Targaryen dynasty ceased upon the death of King Robert and his
de facto replacement by someone not of Baratheon blood. It can be argued that House Stark swore allegiance to Robert Baratheon, and previously to House Targaryen alone, never to House Lannister nor any agency under their power. As legal scholar Greatjon Umber stated: "It was the dragons we married and the dragons are all dead !". With the line of the dragon being ended in Westeros, sovereignty reverts to the King In The North, and all those who swear fealty to him do so lawfully, and place themselves under northern law.
In summation to charges 1, 2, and 4:
- Joffrey was no true Baratheon and no true King.
- The Iron Throne had been seized in an unlawful coup by House Lannister.
- The treasonous and unlawful murders and warfare launched by House Lannister necessitated a full military response. All casualties among House Lannister and their supporters are legitimized as part of warfare.
- The sovereignty of the Iron Throne over the North and Riverlands had ended. Northern sovereignty was therefore legitimate.
Verdict: NOT GUILTY.
As to count 3, breaking a marriage contract with House Frey, House Frey did not specify a singular person that Robb should marry, nor a wedding date, so the marriage agreement should only be considered a "letter of intent" at best, not a full contract. Furthermore, House Frey swore fealty to Robb Stark as King In The North, and the agreement of intent was merely in compensation for the crossing of the Twins by the northern armies. Within that agreement it was not implied that Robb Stark would be King In The North, so House Frey's acceptance of his sovereignty cannot be considered as payment for any marriage promised, but rather an act taken solely of their own volition. Once Robb Stark was declared King In The North, and House acceded to the power of his kingship, then House Frey also accepted that the sovereign power of the King included the making and unmaking of marriages and agreements for such. As well, prior to Robb Stark being declared King, House Frey owed fealty to House Tully, which meant House Frey had a duty to help defend the Riverlands from attack, compensation or no. The claim cannot be made they also had a duty to the Iron Throne, as at the time, the Iron Throne was being illegally usurped by House Lannister.
Verdict: SETTLE IN ARBITRATION, LARGELY IN FAVOUR OF DEFENDANT
House Frey is entitled to have the dispute settled in binding arbitration to set the degree of compensation. The court suggests a marriage to Edmure Tully, plus control Harrenhal to pass to a non-heir Frey of Walder Frey's choosing. As well, House Westerling may also be represented in this arbitration as a third-party interest.
Edited by Pod The Impaler, 17 December 2012 - 03:31 PM.
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