This post replaces & supercedes any prior writings about the Sedonian Courts of law. The lowest court in the Sedonian system is the Magistrate's Court. Presided over by a magistrate appointed by the local baron (often an impovrished relative, rarely a professional jurist), this court tries misdemeanors, ordinance & licensing violations, and small-claims litigation. It also conducts premliminary hearings for felonies & litigations to determine if a case should go to trial. Finally, magistrates also issue search warrants and arrest warrants (although, in Sedonia, an arrest warrant is only required if the suspect is being arrested in a private dwelling). The next level of courts is known collectively as the High Courts of Justice, and consists of several separate divisions. The Empress' (or Emperor's) Bench hears all felonies. Generally, judges of the Empress' Bench are professional jurists, assigned to travel along a circuit of major towns in a county (assizes). The Empress' Bench also hears de novo criminal appeals from the Magistrate's Courts. Certain major felonies (such as premeditated murder, rape, treason, or complex frauds) are tried at the Main Criminal Court in Thalsedon, rather than by an assize judge. The Court of Chancery handles civil litigation (such as torts & contracts) and probate cases. Unlike their counterparts on the Empress' Bench, the Chancery judges do not go on circuit, remaining at their county's seat. The Court of Chancery hears de novo appeals of small-claims cases from Magistrate's Court. Family Courts are also permanently situated at county seats, and have exclusive jurisdiction over divorce, annulment, adoption, and crimes committed by and/or against children. The Court of the Exchequer is based in Thalsedon with branches in the ducal seats. It has exclusive jurisdiction over tax cases, customs cases, bankruptcies, debt collection, and foreclosure. The Court of Admiralty is based in Thalsedon with branches in the major port cities. It has exclusive jurisdiction over actions brought against ships and over torts committed on the high seas. At the next level above the High Courts of Justice is the Court of Appeals, which reviews lower court decisions for errors of law. While based in Thalsedon, the Court of Appeals is divided into five branches, one each for Sedonian, Selaria, Tirmar, Casovia, and Vizinia. Above the Court of Appeals is the Lord Chancellor (currently the Archprelate of Lusia, Thandra Ellis). He hears appeals of the Court of Appeals' decision, and is the penultimate court in Sedonia. The Lord Chancellor also has original jurisdiction over criminal acts committed by the nobility. The ultimate court of appeal in Sedonia is (at the moment) the Empress herself. She posesses the power to order any criminal or civil case be tried (or, for appeals, retried) before her. In general, the only persons whose appeals must be heard by right are criminals facing death, mutilation, or exile. In all other cases, the Court of Appeals or the Lord Chancellor or the Empress may chose to deny an appeal without explanation. Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
