Abwehran Judicial

The Judicial Branch of the Abwehran Star Empire is responsible for interpreting both Imperial Constitution of the Abwehran Star Empire and the Laws of the Empire. This duty also includes the construction and running the court systems of the Empire.

There are five levels of the Imperial Justice System:

The highest court of the Empire, the Imperial High Court is responsible for interpreting the constitution and is the top court of the appeals ladder. Run by ten Supreme Judges, each Judge is elected via popular vote for a maximum of two terms of ten years each. One Supreme Judge out of the ten is then appointed by the Empress to be the President of the Imperial High Court for two years. After those two years, another is chosen from the ten.

A power granted the Imperial High Court is that of Judicial Review. With this power, the Supreme Judges can declare laws invalid if they go against the Imperial Constitution of the Abwehran Star Empire and act as final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.

Very few cases reach the Imperial High Court and they are all based on certain factors:

1. Cases which involve original jurisdiction, such as crimes involving diplomatic personnel.
2. Cases appealed from lower imperial courts can be heard at the Imperial High Court. Some laws obligate (or force) the Imperial High Court to hear them. But most come up for review on the writ of certiorari, a discretionary writ that the court grants or refuses at its own discretion. The writ is granted if four of the Supreme Judges want it to be heard.

The Second Highest Court, the Court of Appeals handles all civil and criminal appeals. Run by High Judges, these individuals are elected for three terms of four years each.

Handling the initial civil and criminal cases for a region, these courts are managed by Judges. These people are popularly elected for an unlimited amount of terms of six years each.

The first courts to receive cases in towns and cities, these are managed by Magistrates. Magistrates are individuals who are popularly elected for an unlimited amount of terms of eight years each.

Though similar to Regional Courts (except on a planetary scale), Colonial Courts are located upon worlds that have yet to reach membership status in the Abwehran Star Empire. These Courts are managed by Judges, whom act in the same way as Regional Courts.