This week I visited the court of the Water Tribunal of the plain of Valencia. It meets almost every Thursday on the steps of the Cathedral in the city, and they settle disputes between farmers concerning irrigation and water supply. In such an arid region, this is very important
The court consists of 8 syndics, one for each of the irrigation communities, elected by the plain's farmers from amongst themselves. There is a president and vice-president, each elected from each side of the (old) banks of the river Turia.
When the accused is from the same bank as the President, he recuses himself. The court is conducted entirely in Valencian, and its proceedings are only oral. No paperwork is taken. Farmers abide by its rulings as a matter of respect.
But what is amazing is that this court has been running continuously for at least a 1000 years, maybe 1600 years. It's thought to have its origins in Roman 'Valentia', but was probably formalised in Muslim 'Balansiya' (714-1042). Its terminology is largely from Arabic.
Its customary authority has survived multiple occupations, changes in government and attempts at state centralisation for well over a thousand years. I guess the reason is that management of irrigation is just too vital to life to tinker with
it wasn't sitting when I visited because of Christmas - but here's a few photos I took of the chairs, and some from online 
