Magistrates' Court Rules and Procedures

[juniperfig]

THE MAGISTRATES COURT​

CIVIL MATTERS​

Any evidence is to be submitted by the legal counsels only, the presiding judicial officer in the Magistrate’s court must not intervene in evidence gathering.

CRIMINAL MATTERS​

Any evidence is to be submitted by the legal counsels only, the presiding judicial officer in the Magistrate’s court must not intervene in evidence gathering.

REQUESTS​

A presiding judicial officer, at any time during the case up to its adjournment, may send a request (with reasoning) to the Chancery for any actions or emergency powers that the Chancery originally has. This request shall be ruled on by the Chief Justice or a Chancellor to grant the action or emergency power as stated by the request.

Filing Process:
Requests must be titled “Request for [Subject]”. Either the Chief Justice or a Chancellor has 48 hours to respond to the Request, and the Request will automatically be accepted if there is no response from either the Chief Justice or a Chancellor within the timeframe stated above.

INGAME TRIALS​

Ingame Trial Request​

Ingame Trials may be requested by either party in a lawsuit, however it can only be approved if both parties agree to it. If the parties of the lawsuit cannot come to an agreement on a suitable time, the trial shall continue on the forums.

Ingame Trial Procedure​

Ingame Trials will still begin on the forums, with the original case filing and discovery still occurring on forums. Ultimately, the presiding Judicial Officer(s) will decide what the remaining portion of the in-game trial will look like, but should generally follow a similar procedure to a forums trial.

Ingame Trial Location​

In-Game Trials will take place in the associated Courthouse (in-game at /courts). The Chancery is to the right and the Magistrates’ Court is to the left. For all in-game trials, a member of the Ministry of Justice will act as a Bailiff to ensure order in the courtroom. Open-court cases will be open for public viewing.

MAGISTRATE-SPECIFIC WRITS​

Writ of Reconsideration
A request to the presiding magistrate to reconsider the arguments made by all parties on a previous decision that the same magistrate within the same case.

Writ of Scrutiny
A request for a Chancellor to reconsider a decision made by a Magistrate.

Writ of Recusal
Formal request to recuse the sitting judicial officer. If the judicial officer refuses, you may call down a Chancellor to rule on the matter.

Writ of Removal
A request that the Presiding Magistrate allow for the case to be "Removed" to a court of higher jurisdiction (I.E., the Chancery) because jurisdiction is improper in the Magistrates Court and would be more proper (I.E., original) under that higher court. Typically sought by defendants. This will be ruled on by a Chancellor or Chief Justice.

 

[Smallfries]

Writ of Removal
A request that the Presiding Magistrate allow for the case to be "Removed" to a court of higher jurisdiction (I.E., the Chancery) because jurisdiction is improper in the Magistrates Court and would be more proper (I.E., original) under that higher court. Typically sought by defendants. This will be ruled on by a Chancellor or Chief Justice.

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