Here's a proposed hierarchy of Magistrates based on location, complexity of tasks, and supervisory roles:

Levels of Magistrates in Gorean Cities

The Gorean judicial system, primarily managed by the Scribe Caste, operates through a tiered magistracy where responsibilities escalate with rank, involving different scopes of jurisdiction and levels of authority.

1. Junior / City Magistrate (Field & Entry-Level Judiciary)

• Locations: Primarily work in smaller, localized offices within districts, on public streets, at market stalls, or in neighborhood dispute centers.

• Tasks: Handle common, minor civil disputes (e.g., neighbor quarrels, minor property disagreements, simple debt collection), initial slave identification (runaways), basic enforcement of city ordinances, and simple legal guidance to the general citizenry. They would be the most common judicial presence.

• Reporting: Report directly to a Senior or Chief Magistrate.

2. Standard Magistrate (Core Adjudicators)

• Locations: Primarily work within dedicated Magistrate Offices in Scribe Halls or the Central Cylinder, and preside over Courtrooms within a Cylinder of Justice. They would also access City Archives/Libraries.

• Tasks: Hear and decide a broad range of minor and major disputes between citizens, including complex slave ownership cases, challenges to enslavement, and initial criminal trials. They apply established laws and precedents to specific facts. This is the common "judge" role.

• Reporting: Report to a Chief Magistrate.

3. Chief Magistrate (Supervisory & Major Case Adjudicators)

• Locations: Maintain offices within the Scribe Hall or Central Cylinder, and preside over major Courtrooms within the Cylinder of Justice. They would have frequent interaction with the City Archives/Library.

• Tasks: Oversees a contingent of Standard and Junior Magistrates, assigning cases, reviewing their judgments, and ensuring consistency. They primarily handle more complex, sensitive, or high-profile cases, and may consult more directly with Litigators on strategy. Responsible for overall judicial efficiency in their section.

• Reporting: Report directly to the High Magistrate.

4. High Magistrate (System Administrator & Appellate Authority)

• Locations: Primarily in a central office within the Scribe Hall or Central Cylinder. Presides over the most significant Courtrooms, potentially handling final appeals before the Council. Attends High Council meetings.

• Tasks: The senior judge responsible for the entire judicial system's integrity. Oversees all Chief Magistrates, sets legal precedents, provides definitive interpretations of laws, and establishes judicial policy. Handles all final appeals from lower magistrates (short of the Council). Serves as a non-voting legal advisor to the High Council, providing legal expertise and reports. May coordinate legal responses in crises.

• Reporting: Reports to the High Scribe and/or the Praetor.

5. Praetor (Chief Legal Administrator & Inter-Caste Coordinator)

• Locations: Main office likely within the Central Cylinder, possibly a dedicated Praetorium. Frequent presence in the Scribe Council chambers, and interactions with other Caste Heads.

• Tasks: The highest legal authority in the city below the Ubar/Council. Oversees all judicial functions including the High Magistrate. Responsible for broad legal policy, inter-caste legal coordination (especially with Warriors), law distribution, caste code advisory across all castes, and managing major legal training initiatives. While a Scribe, their role transcends the internal Scribe Caste, influencing the city's entire legal structure. They might also lead the council of scribes for caste code violations.

• Reporting: Reports directly to the Ubar or City Council.

This proposed structure allows for a clear hierarchy of responsibility, specialization, and authority within the Gorean judicial system, aligning with the described functions and locations.