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by The Dispatch Office of FNR. . 81 reads.

FNF | The Judicial Procedures Act



Master DispatchThe Legislative BranchLegal CodeThe Judicial Procedures Act




Name: The Judicial Procedures Act
Serial Number: RL-005


Date of Passage: 2021/06/26
Brief Purpose: To establish regular court procedure.

The Judicial Procedures Act


Section I: Formatting and Etiquette

  1. Criminal Cases the Attorney General or an authorized deputy shall be titled The Free Nations Region v. Defendant.

  2. All those involved in a case are expected to inform the court if there is anything that may impact their participation in the case.

  3. The Defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. The court will be an adversarial system.

  4. The Court may hold non-binding mock trials purely for educational value.

  5. Past cases shall be archived in a public location and detail both the indictment and verdict.

Section II: Court Process

  1. During Pre-Trial, evidence is submitted and the Defendant can convey intention to plead.

    1. The Attorney General is responsible for calling a session of the court and filing an indictment. All involved parties must be informed to ensure equal preparation time. The involved parties will then set a date for the trial.

    2. A minimum of two justices must be present.

  2. During the Plea Hearing, the defendant will issue their formal plea.

    1. A guilty plea will proceed to sentencing, while a not guilty plea will proceed to a trial hearing.

    2. The prosecution and Defense shall inform the court of any witnesses, issues in the case, evidence exhibits, admissions, and any point of law that might arise regarding the admissibility of evidence. All involved parties will receive copies of evidence.

    3. The court will then set an agreed date for the trial hearing and notify all involved parties. The court must be informed of any conflicts with the date.

    4. A minimum of one justice must be present.

  3. The Attorney General shall open the Trial Hearing with a summary of the evidence and the indictment.

    1. The Defense also may also make an opening statement.

    2. The Attorney General may bring forth witnesses and evidence, after which the Defense shall open their case with a counterargument and may provide witnesses and evidence. Each side shall then summarize their argument.

    3. Sitting justices will listen to the evidence and may ask questions at any time.

    4. Justices shall retire and return with a verdict. If found guilty, the Justices shall deliver a sentence at this time as well.

      1. When sentencing the court may take previous conduct, trial conduct, and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances into consideration.

      2. If a defendant has received multiple guilty verdicts, the Court may determine if the sentences are to be served concurrently or consecutively.

Section III: Justices

  1. During hearings, the Justices shall be responsible for keeping order in the court, guiding the involved parties in accordance with procedure, reassuring and informing witnesses, ensuring the hearings proceed at a reasonable pace, and giving rulings.

  2. During a hearing, Justices may ask questions of either party for clarification and procedural purposes, may adjourn a case to a later date, may dismiss a case if no progress is made within a reasonable time frame, and may charge counsel or a witness with contempt of court.

  3. Justices may not discuss the details of the case with any uninvolved parties.

  4. Justices must recuse themself from a case if there is any reason that inhibits them from fairly presiding over the case.

Section IV: Objections

  1. Involved parties are permitted to make objections to the judges hearing the case, the process taken, or the conduct of the opposing counsel. They may also submit an application for the case to be dismissed. The court shall then determine whether to sustain or overrule the matter.

  2. The Defense may, before opening its case, make an application of no case to answer. This application must show that the Attorney General has failed to meet the basic requirements to suggest a reasonable degree of guilt on the part of the defendant. The court shall then determine whether to accept the application, in which case the case will be dismissed.


The Dispatch Office of FNR

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