HI 215 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Bourbon Reforms, Barometer
Document Summary
In civil court, indians can file suits against other indians, civil officials and priests. Were given a indigent defender in form of protector de los naturales. However, this did not mean these people truly advocated for them. In 1596, the monarch fired every protector in the realm as he believed they were all corrupt. The intra-indians (between indians) disputes legal recourse was occasionally viable. In filing suit against overlords, they were at a severe disadvantage. Once a suit is filed, an investigating magistrate, or juez commissionado (civil) or a vicar (religious) would be dispatched. The accused official/priest leaves town for open discussion. People offer a testimony, court reads it, and then the court reads it and the rebuttal testimony. They evaluate it and give a decision. Sometimes the vicar or juez com were themselves under investigation. The investigated could induce people not to testify. Assistants of officials or priests stayed back and could report on what the open discussion said.
