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High Court Of Inquiry

General Info

  • Allegiance : Republic
  • Membership : 3
  • Type : Government of the Republic

Description

The High Court of Inquiry has its origins in a First Age instutition of the same name, and is composed of a rotating panel of the highest ranking members of the Republic's government. The Court was originally established to ensure fair enforcement of the laws against powerful and prominent members of the Republic that could not be tried in ordinary courts.

At first, the Court was hailed as a bastion of Justice and open minded reform. While a certain degree of patronage and quid-pro-quo has existed since the inception of Parliament, there are limits to what the people are willing to accept. Parliamentarians who engaged in outright corruption and vote manipulation quickly found themselves hauled before the High Court of Inquiry.

Within the past century however, the Court has become an instrument not of blind justice but of political expediency and oppression. Judgements became arbitrary, and often predetermined, with the actual trial merely a theatre for the State to present its version of the truth.

Though the Lord Protectory typically does not involve themselves in the Court's process once a panel has been selected, there have been instances where a sitting Lord has chosen to prosecute the case themselves. No such case has ever resulted in an acquittal.

Structure

Governnance

graph TD;
  %%classDef BlkD fill:#DDD,stroke:#888,stroke-width:2px;

  subgraph HC1[High Court of Inquiry]
    lp[Lord Protector]
    hc{{High Court of Inquiry}}
    js[Justices]
    pm[Provost Marshal]
    pg[Procurator General]
    pr(Provosts)
    def[Defendant]

    lp-- Assigns -->js;
    lp-- Appoints -->pm;
    pm-- Administrates -->hc;
    pm-- Directs -->pr;
    pm-- Oversees -->pg;
    pg-- Prosecutes -->def;
    pr-- Arrest -->def;
    js-- Judge -->def;
    js-- Preside Over -->hc;
  end

  style HC1 fill:#FFF,stroke:#FFF,stroke-width:2px

The administration of the Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Provost Marshal, the highest ranking member of the Republic's military police (Provosts). The Republic's Provosts serve as both the clerical staff and law enforcement personnel for the courts, and can compel the assistance of citizens and members of the Army through the use of Specific and General Warrants.

The investigation and prosecution of cases for the High Court is the sole responsibility of the Procurator General, the ranking officer among the government's lawyers within the Provost Marshal's Office. It is the Procurator's role to build and present the State's case against the accused.

Unlike typical courts, the Justices of the High Court of Inquiry are chosen by the Lord Protector from among the Republic's high officials. Although there are no restrictions as to who may serve on the High Court, the offices typically appointed (and their incumbents) are presented below. Of the available candidates, three are chosen to serve as the need arises.

Originally, this selection mechanism was intended to ensure that the Court's Justices would never be compromised by the defendants, as the Lord Protector could simply avoid selecting any official likely to have a conflict of interest. In practice, the panel is selected specifically to achieve the desired verdict, often against the defendant.

Notable Locations

  • Sterred Chambre :

    Located within the halls of the Palace of Justice in Siddar City, the High Court of Inquiry convenes within a hall commonly referred to in Old Common as the Sterred Chambre, after the gilded stars on blue background that decorate the ceiling.

Notable Members

  • Sergeant-at-Arms of the Siddar Gendarmerie :

    Sergeant-at-Arms Ahryn Tohmys

  • Deacon of Siddar City :

    Deacon Ansahl Crowle

  • Chancellor of Parliament :

    MEP Kaaryl Praigyr

  • Quartermaster General :

    Major General Edmynd Magwair

  • Auditor General :

    Major General Arahkah Rowzvel

  • Director of Army Intelligence :

    Brigadier Larys Bairystyr

  • Commander of the Expedition :

    Brigadier Greghor Stonhyr (Suspended)

  • Admiral of the Navy :

    Admiral Yairdahn Suwyl

  • Commandant of the Merchant Marine :

    Rear Admiral Scahrlyt Alban

History

Timeline

Date Name Event
92Y 9M IDE High Court of Inquiry Tries Wyndhymn The High Court tries and convicts MEP Lyhs Wyndhymn, the first Parliamentarian to be brought before the Court, on charges of corruption. The trial draws massive popular attention, and leads to weeks of riots between supporters and opponents after the guilty verdict is handed down.
570Y 4M IDE Brigadier Stonhyr Arraigned Following the annexation of Ravenhelm by the Expedition, and the subsequent souring of relations between the Republic and Blackpoint, Brigadier Greghor Stonhyr was arraigned by the High Court of Inquiry on charges of official corruption and abuse of power.