Discussion: Pschent Visibility

[Cormac]

I think it's worth having a discussion about the visibility of the Pschent. Currently only citizens can view and read the Pschent, which means that discussion of any Pschent case anywhere that non-citizens can see -- including the public halls of the Deshret -- would fall under Unlawful Disclosure and invite potential criminal charges. We are seeing how this can be problematic in the current discussion of the Osiran Honors Act draft legislation, which relates to a case the Pschent is currently hearing. That draft legislation could have been posted in the Deshret's private halls, but I'm not sure keeping more information from non-citizen residents and foreigners who might be interested in participating here is the best solution.

As far as I remember, the Pschent was made visible only to citizens during the charges brought against Cameron Romefeller in 2014, as that process was inviting foreign ridicule. I'm not sure that is at all a good reason for the Pschent not to be visible to the general public.

My recommendation would be to make the Pschent main forum and the Hall of Justice subforum as visible as other government forums, such as the Deshret. But I think it's worth hearing particularly from Elders, as well as the Pharaoh, the Scribe of Justice, and other interested citizens, so instead of simply requesting this I thought I would open a discussion on it.

[Rach]

Personally, I think the more that's open to discussion the better.

[Datford-Zyvetskistaahn]

I should note, the Pschent is presently considering the matter of the visibility of its fora and disclosure from them (or, rather, will be once the Chief Elder can return to reliable activity).

[shetef]

I should note, the Pschent is presently considering the matter of the visibility of its fora and disclosure from them (or, rather, will be once the Chief Elder can return to reliable activity).

Speak of the devil and he shall appear, no?

I would not be opposed to the Pschent subforum being made open to non-citizens - I would, however, suggest a compromise. Namely, that the Hall of Justice (where trials take place) remain open only to citizens, while the Archive (where rulings and transcripts of trials go afterward) is openly accessible. I suggest this merely on the basis that external discussion of a criminal case, especially as politically charged a case as Romefeller's, can prove to be a distraction to the Scribe of Seshat, the defense team, and the Elders presiding over the case. I would like to avoid as much as possible any Elder (ad hoc or seated) making a ruling based on external political pressure at the expense of good jurisprudence.

Feel free to tell me if I'm being a bonehead here.

[Rogamark]

I'm with Zeo here. Ongoing trials have no business being visible to non-citizens, especially not in the not-so-unlikely case that a criminal trial is politically charged. And even with me prosecuting, there is a theoretical possibility of trials resulting in an acquittal. But by the time it comes in, half of the trial might already be all over NS.

[Cormac]

I'm okay as a citizen with keeping the Hall of Justice visible only to citizens. Most legislative discussion is probably going to be related to reviews, not trials, and whatever discussions may arise from trials will be so rare that I don't see a problem having those discussions in the Deshret's private halls.