[Mithadan]

Speaking as a member of the noble and time-honored legal profession and being well familiar with the laws and procedures of multiple jurisdictions, I find the foregoing criticism, nay diatribe, to be offensive to all men of "just character and goodly mien", namely the lawyers.

The legal systems of Rohan, Gondor and the Dwarvish and Elvish kingdoms (OK, The Shire is an anomaly) are well-established and governed by the constitutions of those nations and upheld by the authorities of their rulers. Well, Rohan doesn't have a constitution per se, having been established by the edict of the lawful Steward of Gondor and the pact between Cirion and Eorl, but it does, nonetheless, have a well-defined and structured body of jurisprudence.

Indeed the legal systems of the Elves and the Dwarves have been in place for several thousand years. The Elvish system of justice is based upon the Valinorean, in which a council deliberates all issues and judgments are pronounced by the doomsman, Mandos. Extraordinary cases are reserved to the exclusive jurisdiction of Iluvatar.

Similarly, the Elvish courts are overseen by duly appointed councils with a right of appeal to the king, regent or ruler of the realm. Cases involving treason or murder, like the Gondorian system, are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the king, regent or ruler. Attorneys are well-respected and wise. Saeros of Doriath is an example. Cases are handled efficiently by the judiciary by Elvish standards.

The Dwarvish system focuses primarily upon commercial matters with capital cases reserved to the king or ruler. A highly sophisticated system of contract interpretation has evolved there, and caveat emptor is resrved for those cases where the bargainers are foolish enough to seal a deal with a handshake and without witnesses. A prime example of this would be Thingol's deal with the Dwarves of Nogrod concerning the fashioning of the Nauglamir to hold the Silmaril. Unfortunately, both Dwarvish and Elvish courts accepted jurisdiction over this case and each reached a contrary decision which could not be enforced in the lands of either race without resulting in all out war...

The Gondorian system has been in existence since the founding of Numenor and has broad jurisdiction and powers. Local lords comprise the courts of first instance with right of appeal to the King or his ministers depending on the nature of the matter. Again, in Gondor, lawyers are honored and respected. Indicative of this is the insignia of membership in the Gondorian Bar; a sack of silver coins handing on a gold chain, with the size of the chain and sack indicating the attorney's years of practice.

In short, the scandalous and inflammatory statements of Marileangorifurnimaluim do not accurately reflect the honorable profession of the counsellor at law. A libel suit is now in preparation.

Lots in Gondolin, Numenor and Doriath are now sold out, however prime property in Nargothrond is now available.