Can't help you there, I certainly wouldn't go messing with the "Word of Tom" 
The main problem as I see it is you guys have no easy way during a case to get information from Tom regarding the full purpose of a rule. Thus if you start meddling with the rules we leave the path open for Tom to come and and disagree after a ruling.
There is always going to be a difference here between the role and powers of the magistrates and RL systems. Tom created the game and the rules, and locked away in his head is the way they are supposed to work.
As is made evident by Tom's post, quoted below, there is no reason that the Magistrates can't ask Tom a question. I have done it at least once during a Magistrates Case. Tom might not be on the forums a ton but you can certainly send him an email (or forum PM which gets sent to his email).
There's e-mail...
