Harsh courts are a great way to get rapid control gains when you first take a region. Chances are the other stats are so bad that the consequences of the courts is not that imporantant, and that combined with police work will quickly get you to core. I suppose this is important in the first few turns of taking a region, since this is when I generally see the region rebel. If you make it past this point, Harsh Courts should no longer be required.
