The Forvik Law Book
Article 1. The law of The Sovereign State of Forvik is a) common law under equity for living Forvegians and b) commercial law for legal fiction entities. Equity presides over all other Law and resolves jurisdictional questions. The law of The Sovereign State of Forvik recognises established common law in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia.
Article 2. Established principals of private international law govern all commercial transactions between all legal entities.
Article 3. Every Forvegian whose case is to be decided in judicial proceedings has the right to a court established by law, with jurisdiction, independence, and impartiality. Exceptional tribunals are prohibited.
Article 4. All criminal proceedings will be governed in equity.
Article 5. Any Forvegian accused of a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until their guilt has been determined under due process.
Article 6. In judicial and administrative proceedings, every Forvegian has the right to equal and fair treatment as well as adjudication within reasonable time.
Article 7. The parties have the right to be heard.
Article 8. Every Forvegian lacking the necessary means has the right to free legal assistance, provided the case does not seem to lack any merit. To the extent necessary for the protection of one's rights, the Forvegian also has the right to free legal assistance within Forvik.
Article 9. Court hearings and pronouncements of judgements are public. The jury may provide for exceptions.
Article 10. Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to be informed promptly and comprehensively of the accusation against him or her. He or she must have the opportunity to assert his or her rights of defence.
Article 11. Every condemned person has the right to have the judgement reviewed by a higher court. Provided the case is not adjudicated by the Top Court as court of first and last instance.
Article 12. The law cannot prescribe the death penalty.
Article 13. No Forvegian shall be subjected to torture, or other degrading punishment or treatment.
Article 14. Slavery in all its forms is forbidden.
Article 15. If a Forvegian has been deprived of liberty without sufficient cause, he or she is entitled to remedy.
Article 16. A Forvegian may only be deprived of his or her liberty in the cases and following the forms provided by law.
Article 17. Every Forvegian deprived of his or her liberty has the right to be informed promptly, in a language which he or she understands, of the reasons for his or her arrest and of his or her rights. The Forvegian has to have the opportunity to assert his or her rights. In particular, he or she has the right to have his or her close relatives informed.
Article 18. Every Forvegian taken into pre-trial detention has the right to be brought before a judge without delay; the judge decides whether the Forvegian remains in detention or is released. Every Forvegian held in pre-trial detention is entitled to trial within a reasonable time.
Article 19. Every Forvegian deprived of his or her liberty without a trial is entitled to access to a court at any time. The court decides as soon as possible on the lawfulness of the detention.
Article 20. Judges may guide, but not lead juries on technical matters of law, however the determination and sentence are a matter for the jury. The jury has the power to judge both the case and the law.
Article 21. No Forvegian will be required to be punished unless he has been found guilty of a crime which was punishable under the law when it took place, or can be fully equated to that conduct. Punishment must be no more severe than is allowed under Forvik Law.
Article 22. Forvik law specifies minimum and maximum terms of office.
Article 23. Patents are not recognised in Forvik. All intellectual property is seen as being in the public domain. However, it is Forvik policy to help inventors benefit from their inventions.