Druids were a major power within the Celtic empire,
with all public and private affairs subject to their authority as judges. In this function as judges the power of the druids was virtually absolute. Their decisions often involved entire families, in accordance with Celtic law that spelled out that all of the wrongdoer's immediate relatives could be held responsible for his/her misdeed. The offender's family was responsible for seeing that the order of sentence was obeyed. By involving families and holding them legally responsible in a legal dispute, Celtic law brought tremendous pressure upon potential wrongdoers. If the family defaulted on the judgment made by the Druids, the entire family would be disgraced, as far as four generations.Celtic society had to deal with a wide array of legal problems, most of which existed then as they do today, from disputes over property, personal injury, property damage, theft, fraud, murder, rape, usury, contractual law, marital law, crime, and many more.
Marital law and inheritance laws were among the most complex and taxing upon the wisdom of the druids. Since Celtic society allowed polygamy, different laws and legal rights were applied to spouses, children and mistresses. The chief, or primary, wife along with her children enjoyed privileges not extended to the other members of the family. However, if she failed to produce children to the husband -- which, incidentally, was a primary reason for men taking more than one wife, -- her inheritance could pass over her to the children of a subordinate wife. If the husband divorced his first wife, which he could easily do by simply returning her to her family, then the question of inheritance was resolved among the remaining wives.
Celtic law possessed a variety of means for discouraging potential wrongdoers. One of these was the institution of suretyship. When an infraction was committed a fine was imposed and a man of equal or higher social standing was required to co-sign in providing additional assurance that the debt would be repaid. If the person defaulted his assets could become the property of the co-signer.
Legislation seems not to be part of a kings rights according to Early Celtic Law. However, a king can issue an ordinance (rechtgae) in times of emergency. Obviously, most law-enforcement was done through an elaborate system of suretyship, pleading and distraint (all explained later), so the king was not directly involved in the usual law-enforcement procedures. However, in case of emergency ordinances (rechtgae, see above) and in legal problems extending over the borders of one tuath the king was required to enforce the law on behalf of his subjects.
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