Courts of Justice

The Courts of Justice is one of the primary domains of Heaven, and formerly the realm of Tyrael.

Lore
The Courts are located adjacent to the Angiris Council Chamber. The entrance to the Courts is a massive set of doors, above which hangs a replica of El'druin, albeit ten times the size of the actual sword. The Courts themselves are akin to a great auditorium, where angels congregate, airing grievances, and striving to reclaim lost harmony or equilibrium. Seats run around three sides, centered around a ring in the center. Towering above the ring are statues of both male and female angels. Their giant stone arms point downward to where the accused stands. In the center of the ring is a column of stone, carved upon which are demons and angels crying out in agony. Demons and angels alike have been sentenced here. Some angels face their sins with dignity, whereas others are dragged screaming into the prisons located below the Courts.

One wall, known as the Wall of Edicts, is inscribed from floor to ceiling with words writ large by an elegant hand. These are the laws of Heaven itself, carved in stone and followed for millennia.

History
By 1285, the Courts were left empty, as no new archangel of justice had formed to replace Tyrael. Even after his return to Heaven, this remained the case, as he instead became the Aspect of Wisdom. Entering the Courts, fleeting visions of every angel who had perished at the hands of Diablo assaulted him. The fallen angels held Tyrael responsible for their deaths. Overcome with guilt, Tyrael lacked the courage to face their judgement and fled.

That same year, the Horadrim passed through the Courts on their way to the Angiris Council Chamber, as part of their quest to retrieve the Black Soulstone. Jacob Staalek, Gynvir, and Shanar were all similarly affected by being in the Courts, weighed down by the sense of terrible deeds and past sins that permeated the Courts.