The Adrian Empire, Inc. IMPERIAL ESTATES WRIT #2, 12 CODEX ADJUDICATA Adopted January 1992 Amended November 1996, November 2001 © 2002 The Adrian Empire Inc., all rights reserved. Anyone is welcome to point out any error or omission that they may find. Imperial Chancellor chancellor@adrianempire.org Empress empress@adrianempire.org Emperor emperor@adrianempire.org Page 2 of 9 Codex Adjuticata as adopted January 1992, amended November 1996 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface............................................................................................................................................................... 3 I. Duties ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 A. Civil Duties ..................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Imperial Chancellery.............................................................................................................. 3 2. Chancellery of Chartered Subdivisions................................................................................. 3 B. Parliamentary Duties....................................................................................................................... 3 1. Imperial Chancellery.............................................................................................................. 3 B. Chancellery of Chartered Subdivisions................................................................................. 3 C. Judicial Duties................................................................................................................................. 4 1. Imperial Chancellery.............................................................................................................. 4 B. Chancellery of Chartered Subdivisions................................................................................. 4 II. Civil Courts.............................................................................................................................................. 4 A. Rules for Convening a Civil Court ................................................................................................. 4 B. Members of the Court ..................................................................................................................... 5 C. Conduct of the Court....................................................................................................................... 5 III. Courts of Justice....................................................................................................................................... 5 A. Royal Court..................................................................................................................................... 6 Conduct of the Court....................................................................................................................... 6 B. Hundreds Court............................................................................................................................... 6 Conduct of the Court....................................................................................................................... 6 C. Courts of Chivalry........................................................................................................................... 6 1. Members of the Court ............................................................................................................ 7 2. Conduct of the Court.............................................................................................................. 7 D. Courts of Justice v. Mundane Law ................................................................................................. 7 E. Calling a Court of Justice................................................................................................................ 7 F. Statute of Limitations...................................................................................................................... 7 G. Judicial Ban..................................................................................................................................... 8 H. Right of Appeal............................................................................................................................... 8 I. Punishment...................................................................................................................................... 8 a. Censure And Apology............................................................................................................ 8 b. Loss Of Awards, Orders, Ranks, And/Or Titles .................................................................... 8 c. Service ................................................................................................................................... 8 d. Judicial Ban............................................................................................................................ 8 e. Banishment ............................................................................................................................ 8 J. No Double Jeopardy ....................................................................................................................... 9 IV. Conduct of Judicial Courts ...................................................................................................................... 9 Codex Adjutica as adopted January 1992, amended November 1996 Page 3 of 9 PREFACE This Codex Adjutica is a Manual for the conduct of Justice within the Adrian Empire, compiled in the reign of His Imperial Majesty, Terrance, being the year 9 Anno Imperito by Philip Lord Coirnoir, Prince of Adria, Earl of Adria, Viscount of the Empire, Chancellor of the Empire, Knight of the Realm. I. DUTIES A. CIVIL DUTIES 1. IMPERIAL CHANCELLERY a. b. c. d. e. Advise the Imperial Crown in the drafting of Imperial Crown writs. Review Imperial Crown writs for conflict with existing Imperial Crown writs and Imperial bylaws. Review chartered subdivision codicils and writs for conflict with Imperial law. Conduct hearings of writ if a member challenges Imperial Crown or Crown writ. Draft model laws for the Imperial Crown, Crowns, and Royal Peers upon request. Advise the local Crown in the drafting of local Crown writs. Submit chartered subdivision codicils and writs to Imperial Chancellary for review and recording. 2. CHANCELLERY OF CHARTERED SUBDIVISIONS a. b. B. PARLIAMENTARY DUTIES 1. IMPERIAL CHANCELLERY a. b. c. d. Act as chairman of the Imperial Estates. Approve and execute Imperial Estate writs on behalf of the Imperial Estates. Assist the Imperial Estates in drafting law. Advise the Imperial Estates of potential conflict between the Imperial bylaws and proposed Imperial Estate writs or law. Act as chairman of the local Estates. Approve and execute local Estate writs on behalf of the local Estates. Assist the local Estates in drafting local law. Advise the local Estates of potential conflict between the Imperial bylaws and proposed local Estate writs or law. 2. CHANCELLERY OF CHARTERED SUBDIVISIONS a. b. c. d. Page 4 of 9 Codex Adjuticata as adopted January 1992, amended November 1996 C. JUDICIAL DUTIES 1. IMPERIAL CHANCELLERY a. b. c. d. e. f. Draft charges of violation of law on behalf of the Imperial Crown. Act as prosecutor if the Imperial Crown is the complainant. Determine if the Statute of Limitations applies. Organize the Imperial court and assist the Imperial Crown in its conduct if a member other than the Imperial Crown is the complainant. Advise accused members of their rights. Assist chancellors of chartered subdivisions in conducting courts. Draft charges of violation of law on behalf of the local Crown. Act as prosecutor if the local Crown is the complainant. Determine if the Statute of Limitations applies. Organize the local court and assist the local Crown in its conduct if a member other than the local Crown is the complainant. Advise accused members of their rights. 2. CHANCELLERY OF CHARTERED SUBDIVISIONS a. b. c. d. e. II. CIVIL COURTS Civil courts are convened at the request of any member desiring that a rule of law be clarified, expanded or extrapolated, unless the Chancellery determines that no significant question of law has been raised. Civil Courts are extremely powerful having the right to rule on the intent of the estates as well as extrapolate new law by examining the intent of one or more Imperial bylaws as they apply to a set of facts. (From the Bylaws of the Adrian Empire, Article XI.A. November 2001.) As a practical matter such courts are called when a member of lesser power disputes an action or ruling of a member of greater power. A historical note for future Chancellors, Civil Courts are also called "Article XVI" courts, after the bylaw provision that created them in the early bylaws. A. RULES FOR CONVENING A CIVIL COURT 1. The request must be in writing and presented to (The party receiving the petition shall become the Presiding Justice of the court.) either: a. The Crown b. A landed Royal Peer c. The Imperial Chancellor d. The Regional Chancellor 2. The request must clearly state the rule of law to be evaluated, and the reason for the evaluation. Codex Adjutica as adopted January 1992, amended November 1996 3. Page 5 of 9 The Presiding Justice must determine that the petition represents a legitimate point of ambiguity, and is not an attempt to interfere with the Royal right to create Crown Writ. The Presiding justice may consider, among other things, whether or not the dispute involves a clear or ambiguous by-law provision, his own knowledge of Case Law and custom, as well as his own common sense. If the Presiding Justice rules the petition invalid, the complaining party may appeal to a single higher authority. Only one such appeal may be made. The presiding justice must determine if he will hold an emergency court or a full court. An emergency court may be convened on the spot, but its ruling affects only the event in which the court occurs. A full court may create law, as in a Writ, until the next meeting of the Estates. A full court is held not less then 30 days from the date of the petition. As indicated the ruling of the Court becomes Law until accepted or rejected by the Estates. The rulings of an Emergency Court are effective only during the event in which they are held. 4. 5. B. MEMBERS OF THE COURT The Presiding Justice shall select two members of either the Royal or Great Estates. Any such Peer who plans to give testimony to the Court shall be excused. The petitioner shall further have the right of rejection over one selection of the presiding justice. Preference in selection shall be given to: 1. 2. 3. 4. Royal peers Counts royal and countesses royal (formerly earls and comtessas) Landed great peers Then all other peers. In the event that an emergency court is to be held, and only two acceptable peers are available the senior Knight present and able to serve may substitute for a great or royal peer. A court shall not be held with less then two such peers. In the event that the Presiding justice is not a royal or great peer then the court must contain two such peers. C. CONDUCT OF THE COURT The Court shall be afforded a quite place to meet and confer. The presiding Herald of the Event, or a herald selected by the Presiding Justice, shall act as Bailiff. The Bailiff shall administer an oath of fidelity and good faith to the Court. The Herald shall then compile a list of all members wishing to give testimony. The court shall hear from each such member, and may pose questions to them. The Petitioner shall speak second to last, and the Crown or Noble whose actions are to be effected shall speak last. When all testimony has been heard the court shall meet and confer, and render its decision in writing. III. COURTS OF JUSTICE There are two types of Courts of Justice, although their function is identical, Royal Courts and Hundreds Courts. A Royal Court is conducted by a Crown. A Hundreds Court is conducted by a Ruling Noble. A Knight may elect to be tried by a Court of Chivalry. It is the obligation of the Crown to advise the Knight of this right. The Chancellery shall have the obligation to fairly and impartially assist either, or both, parties in preparing their case. (From the Bylaws of the Adrian Empire, Article XI.B. November 2001.) The court is held not less then 30 days from the date of the notice. As indicated the ruling of the Court becomes Law until accepted or rejected by the a higher authority hearing an appeal. Page 6 of 9 Codex Adjuticata as adopted January 1992, amended November 1996 A. ROYAL COURT A member who wishes to complain of the conduct of another member, ...