User blog comment:Hunter Zealot/Tie ins at the Trial/@comment-1900300-20110516050818

It works like this: as a Spectre, Shepard is above the law and can commit any act as long as he can prove to the Council (if they ask for proof) that the action was done to ensure galactic stability. So as of Mass effect Shepard is pretty clear of wrong doing. It does not matter if Shepard saved the hostages or killed balak, both were acceptable means of maintaining galactic stability. But by the time of ME2 things have changed. Saren's actions have great damaged the reputation of the Spectres and given either the prominence of the Alliance, who have their own intelligence service, or the increased interest in cooperation among species if the Council survived, Spectre's are relatively obsolete. Even the ever standing tensions with the Terminus systems have been cooled over the years, with news coming in from that area, and, with the changes in Citadel space, there is little interest in espionage across that side of the galaxy. This means, as Anderson says, being a Spectre is more symbolic now then practical. Shepard does not have much leeway to do what they what either as a Spectre or ex-Spectre. this is the reason the Alliance can call Shepard in for trail as a former Alliance soldier and particularly since they are a Council race now. And the only proof Shepard has for the recent crimes are the Reapers. not convincing. If you want to really ask a question, how about why Earth and not Arturus station, since it is an Alliance trail, if only just for the sack of the story?