Original-flavour Common Law had very little role for government - juries did most of what a modern judge does, and communities did most of what modern police do.

It worked despite no budget, no marketing and no political program, because the people closest to the ground have the most interest in making sure crime is stopped and stays stopped.

Original-flavour Common Law wasn't good at covering up failure, running large scale extortion, or persecuting political opponents, though.

"Sad!"