The NUGC Judicial System exists to insure that the Rules, Standards, and Conventions of the United Guilds Council are upheld by it's members, including IC laws. It does this by providing a place for those who wish to bring charges or note possible rules infractions against individuals or Guilds. The Judiciary Court is an impartial judge on all matters pertaining to Rules, Standards, Laws and Conventions violations. It shall decide cases on an individual basis, the Rules and Conventions of the NUGC being the highest Law. In cases where there is no clear-cut infraction against NUGC Rules, or IC Laws, then the Rhydin Codes of Conduct & Honor will serve as a guideline. All members of the NUGC agree to abide by the ruling of the Judiciary Court, and it's decisions are final and binding. Only with good reason will an appeal be concidered. Wether it be NUGC rules violations, or SL related matters, the Judicial System shall review and consider all evidence brought before it. Make-up The Judiciary Court is comprised of the following officials: Chief Justice Judges Special Prosecutors Public Defenders Clerk of Courts The Chief Justice is the NUGC official who presides over all matters brought before the Court. This person is appointed by the High Chancellor, and the duties are(but not limited to) the following: Ensure the Courts are run efficently, and that things are being done in an impartial and timely fashion. Document & announce precedent setting rulings so that all in the NUGC are aware of any that might affect their actions. Co-ordinate with the High Chancellor, so that all new rules and laws are carefully concidered. Record & announce official decisions of all cases brought before the Courts. Also, the Chief Justice acts as Clerk of Courts when that position is vacant. The Judges are members of the NUGC who will serve as the judicial representative in all matters brought before the Court. They deliver a verdict upon each case after all sides have been concidered & record their verdict with the Chief Justice. They may do their own investigations on cases brought before the Court, and ask questions of parties during hearings. They are appointed by the High Chancellor. To be appointed for the post of Judge, you must meet the following criteria: Must have a thorough knowledge of the NUGC rules and laws, and the Rhydin Codes of Conduct & Honor. Must be an active member of the NUGC. Must have a mun with time and a fair attitude towards others. Once these criteria have been determined, one must petition the High Chancellor. The NUGC Special Prosecutors are officials of the Court who investigate all charges brought before the Court. The number of these prosecutors will vary at times, depending upon case-load. The Special Prosecutors are appointed by the High Chancellor and may undergo training and supervison before being granted their status. The Special Prosecutors act as advocates for the NUGC, presenting arguments & sentence recomendation before the Court. The Public Defenders are officials of the Court who activly defend an individual who has been accused by a member of the NUGC Council. A Public Defender is appointed by the Chief Justice or clerk of Courts to represent the accused, or he/she may request his/her own Council, a private Lawyer. The public Defender is responsible for gathering all evidence for the Defendant and presenting it at Trial, to prove their innocence. The Public Defender, under written permission from the Defendant, may appear without the Defendant IF Defendant has just cause for not appearing and the Judge, Special Prosecutor, and Public Defender agree. However, the Defendant must before the trial, have a meeting between Public Defender and Special Prosecutor to record his/her *testimony*. The Clerk of Courts acts as the Chief Justice's assistant. He/She records all matters which come before the courts. They are also responsible for setting dates and times for hearings and assign Hearing and court dates for cases to be heard. They also determine the validity of each case brought before the Court, so that frivolous or un- substantiated charges can be thrown out, thus easing the work-load of the Court. The Court Clerk also assigna Prosecutors to investigate alleged rules violations & law infractions. All Court related matters must be sent to the Clerk of Courts for recording and keeping a record of. Process: It is the priveledge of any member of the NUGC to bring charges for cause against any other. These charges can range from either an accusation of cheating (examles: using illegal proggies for fighting, or willfully misleading the NUGC as to Guild composition or ranks), to charges of individuals acting in a manner not permitted by the Rules & Laws of the NUGC. All charges brought forward must be of a form that can be substantiated (i.e hersay is not allowed). Any continued frivolous use of this privledge will result in charges being brought against the offender for misuse of NUGC priveledges. The following process must be followed for the Judiciary Court to take official action: 1) Submit a written request to the Chief Justice or Court Clerk detailing the name and (where applicatble)Guild of the accused, & the nature of the infraction. 2) Submit any and all proof the accusor has in his/her possession to the Court Clerk for review. The Court Clerk will then asign a Special Prosecutor to investigate the charges, & based on the recommendations of the Special Prosecutor, inform the accusor of the disposition of the case. If the charges are determined to be valid, the Judge then proceeds with a Hearing, where all sides & arguments may be heard. This Hearing may take the form of e- mail corespondence, or an actual time may be set asside for a trial to take place....depending on the nature of the offense. If the Case should warrant punishment, then the Judge and councilors (attorneys) will meet to decide the exact composition of the punishment. The Judiciary will always endeavor to decide the final disposition of each case in under a week's time.....but it cannot guarantee it will act in a timely fashion if the case is complicated. Once the disposition of the case has been determined, the Judge will announce first to the Accused & Accusor, then to the NUGC as a whole, the outcome of the case. Any appeal must be filed within seven days of the announcement to the High Chancellor, but even should an appeal be filed, the verdict of the Court stands unless overturned at a later time. If the Defendant does not appear for trial, without proper notice to the Court (Chief Justice, Special Prosecutor, and Public Defender) and without at least 24 hours prior notification, or fails to follow through with the punishment of the Court, further actions will be taken. Example Case: The case starts on time in a Court Room. The two Justices, or single justice, enter along with the Clerk of Courts who logs the Trial. The Judge should also be logging the trial. When all are in place, the Acting Justice says, "An enclosed hearing is being held this 1st day of January, 1999, in said "room", all present please state for the record your presence" Defendant (ex: BadGuy) would state: Present Plaintiff (ex. GoodGuy) would state: Present The Prosecuting Attorney would state: Present and representing Plaintiff The Defense Attorney would state: Present and representing Defendant The Acting Justice continues to say: "In the matter of BadGuy vs Goodguy, I, name of the Acting Justice here a NUGC Court Justice have been assigned to conduct the above forementioned matter, along with Justice "name". (If only one Judge can be available at the time, this line is dropped). This matter is being held pursuant to the filing of Plaintiff's Complaint." "Both counsel have submitted all exhibits necessary, is this correct?" Both Counsels should agree and then the Justice say, "We are now prepared to start with any opening statements that either counsel would like to address the Court with." Counsel for the Plaintiff will go first Counsel for the Defendant second After statements are made (statements should be brief), open court will resume, and both sides will present their facts, any questions will be handled, witnesses if any...etc.....closing statements.There should be a brief recess.....in closed chambers, where the two justices will make their decision after reviewing all the evidence. Then the Justice comes out and address's the Courtroom; speaking their piece, any laws that pertain to the decision, and hands out the verdict.....period. End of case. Note- If anyone speaks out of turn, they should be warned. If they continue to speak out, the Justice may fine them. If the case is over a Rule, the fine is exp, if over a NUGC law, the fine is gold. 1st offence fine- 500 to 5,000 exp / 100 to 500 NUGC Gold. 2nd offence- 1,000 to 10,000 exp / 100 to 1,500 gold. 3rd offense- expulsion from NUGC, or 1,000 to 15,000 exp / 100 to 5,000 Gold. Note that Gold can be done in enhancers, as well. A member without the needed Gold can be placed into Slavery to the NUGC. A person placed is then sold for auction, conducted by the High Chancellor. The time of slavery is 100 gold payed off per week of slavery.