The Imperial Courts

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-=- The Imperial Courts -=-

 

The First Session of the Imperial Senate, with John d’Arkent, Frederick Armas, Matthias Rutledge, Siegmund Corbish, Otho Helvets, Terrence May, and others. 1736.

 

The Imperial Courts are a system by which the Emperor’s justice is administered. The Courts are empowered by the Emperor’s authority to rule on all cases throughout the Empire, divided into circuits and the Supreme Court. Here, we detail the functions of the Court and it’s structure.

 

I. The Supreme Court

 

The Crown v. Carrington, 1753.

 

The Supreme Court is a triarchy of judges and the highest court in the realm. Supreme Court Justices are usually veteran justices, and are nominated by the Imperial Crown with Senate confirmation. 

 

The Supreme Court’s primary functions are as a court of judicial review, and an appellate court.

 

The Supreme Court’s judicial review is a process by which the Supreme Court resolves conflicts that do not necessarily have a plaintiff and defendant.  In order to initiate judicial review, the Court must achieve a simple majority vote. 

 

The Supreme Court is the appellate court of the Imperial Courts, whose verdicts are rendered by a simple majority on each charge presented. The Supreme Court also must elect to accept an appeal by a simple majority vote. Each Supreme Court Justice may also issue warrants for search, arrest and enhanced interrogation methods.

 

Supreme Court Justices

Chief Justice, Sir John d’Arkent

Associate Justice, Joseph Adler

Associate Justice, Jasper de Sarkozy

 

II. The Circuit Courts

 

Judiciary aspirants assembling for their interviews with Vice Chancellor Joachim Haas, 1745.

 

The Circuit courts are the lowest level of the Courts, handling most cases in the Empire. Justices of this court are appointed by the Imperial Crown with Senate confirmation. Their rulings may be appealed to the Supreme Court. They may also issue warrants for search, arrest, and enhanced interrogation methods.

 

Circuit Court Justices

 Justice Fiske Vanir

Justice Eugene Bracchus

Justice John Edward Pruvia

 

III. Court Proceedings

A Chelovek rebel being tortured with a legally issued Court warrant, 1748.

 

INVOKING THE COURT

 

Subpoena; a document filed by the Imperial Government  to the Imperial Courts. A circuit court Justice may assign themselves any subpoena that falls under their jurisdiction, or otherwise the Supreme Court may assign a justice to a case under that justice’s jurisdiction.

 

Petition for Summons; a document filed by a subject of the Empire to the Imperial Courts. Filed when and if any subject of the Empire (the Plaintiff) believes their rights or liberties have been infringed by another subject or office (the Defendant) of the Empire. This includes the Imperial Government.

 

Request for Judicial Review; the document necessary to request that the Supreme Court enact its powers of judicial review upon the requestee’s described dispute. Judicial review does not require a trial but the Court may call for a hearing on the matter. The Supreme Court accepts a request for judicial review by a simple ⅔ majority.

 

Request for Appeal; the document necessary to request an appeal to a ruling made by any single justice. The Supreme Court elects whether to accept an appeal by a simple ⅔ majority.

 

ATTENDANTS OF THE COURTROOM

 

Justice; the master of the Courtroom, and deliverer of the Emperor’s justice. They determine the sentence of the accused. In a Supreme Court case, all three justices collaborate on both the verdict and the sentence, and determine them by a ⅔ majority vote.

 

Plaintiff; the one who accuses another of a crime and brings charges against them. They may have solicitors to help prosecute the case, but it is not an unalienable right.

 

Defendant; the one accused of a crime with charges brought against them. They may have solicitors to help with their defense, but it is not an unalienable right.

 

Solicitor; legal counsel set to either assist the plaintiff or the defendant based on their expertise on law. There are no restrictions on who can be a solicitor. It is not required that one has a solicitor, nor is it an unalienable right to have one.

 

Jury; a body that, in circuit court cases, renders a verdict by simple majority. Every Circuit Court case must have a jury. A jury can consist of no less than five, but no more than nine, and must always be an odd number determined by the justice ruling on the case. A jury is selected from the gallery by lottery.

 

COURTROOM PROCEDURE

 

1. All rise for the honorable presiding justice, seating themselves when he does.
2. The justice administers the creation of a jury, with a minimum of three jurors but as many as nine, though it must always be an odd number. 
3. The jurors are selected by lottery. All potential jurors roll dice, and those with the highest rolls are appointed as jurors.
4. The prosecution presents the charges to the presiding justice.
5. The defense pleads guilty or innocent to the aforementioned charges.
6. The prosecution makes it’s opening statement.
7. The defense makes its opening statement.
8. The prosecution calls its first witness and examines them.
9. The defense cross-examines the first witness.
10. The presiding Justice dismisses the witness.
11. The defense calls the second witness and examines them.
12. The prosecution cross-examines the second witness.
13. The presiding Justice dismisses the witness.
14. The prosecution and defense continue taking turns calling witnesses.
15. This continues until the Justice deems further witnesses unnecessary, or both the defense and prosecution have no more witnesses to call.
16. The prosecution makes its closing statement.
17. The defense makes its closing statement.
18. The Justice orders the jury to a private room to deliberate and render their verdict.
19. The verdict is rendered by a simple majority of the jury on each charge against the defense.
20. Once the jury has their verdict(s), they privately give them to the justice.
21. The Justice presents the jury’s verdict, and renders the appropriate sentences.

 

Issued by the Supreme Court

His Grace, Sir John d’Arkent

The Honorable, Indra Kentri

The Honorable, Waldermar Sarkozic