Wizengamot

Wizengamot

The Wizengamot consists of a number of respected and often elderly witches and wizards, and acts as the supreme court of law where the magical world is concerned. In theory, the organisation convenes to consider important cases of criminal law, very much like a traditional high court. In practice, what we have seen of the Wizengamot doesn't fit in with this principle at all, however.

The only detailed dealings with the Wizengamot so far came when Harry was summoned before them to answer charges of performing under-age magic in a Muggle-infested area in the summer of 1995. As serious as some petty-minded Ministry officials might think this is, it hardly constitutes a major criminal offence, and it seems heavy-handed to say the least to drag a 15-year-old boy before a committee of (supposedly) some of the most eminent persons in the Ministry to answer such trivial charges. The whole trial was cooked up in order to discredit any rumours of Voldemort's return

On the other hand, the extremely serious matter of the trials of the suspected Death Eaters Igor Karkaroff, Ludo Bagman, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr, was dealt with by the Council of Magical Law (headed by Barty Crouch Sr) rather than the Wizengamot. These proceedings were held in the same location as Wizengamot trials (Courtroom 10 in the Ministry of Magic) and with very similar routines. The only difference was the jury of the Council seems to be much larger (around 200 members, compared to around 50 in the Wizengamot)

Even though the Wizengamot's scope of authority is therefore under some question, there remains no doubt that it is a prestigious and powerful body. Not only that, but it does appear to have some degree of autonomy - no doubt the Ministry of Magic would like to think it controls the entire process, pretty much down to the verdict, and carefully hand-picks the wizards chosen for the committee in order to achieve this. There are nevertheless a good number of independent thinkers present, which as Harry could testify to means that the decision does not always go the way Fudge wants it to.

The leader - or Chief Warlock - of the Wizengamot was Albus Dumbledore himself up until 1995. He had held the post for 4 years at that stage, but was then thrown off the board when the Ministry refused to believe his warnings of Voldemort's return. He was re-elected to the post in May/June 1996 after the battle in the Department of Mysteries, though his position will now be, presumably, reopened.

Known members of the Wizengamot are

 * Albus Dumbledore
 * Cornelius Fudge
 * Amelia Bones
 * Dolores Umbridge
 * Percy Weasley
 * Griselda Marchbanks
 * Tiberius Ogden