Courts
Citizen
INTRODUCTION
These are the established rules and procedures of the Court of the Commonwealth of Redmont. It is important that lawyers and any player who is filing a lawsuit via the information in the Creating a Lawsuit thread have an understanding of the rules and procedures this court follows.
RULES
If you start a court case or lawsuit and it does not have any serious legal intent or purpose, the case will be dismissed. In addition, you will be fined $60 for breaking this law.
2. Perjury
When summoned to the court, it is assumed that you will be speaking the truth and nothing but the truth, in accordance with the Perjury Act. If you are found to be giving knowingly incorrect or false testimony in your case, you may be subject to fines of up to $50,000.
3. Obstruction Of Justice
The wilful interfering with the process of justice through influencing a party in a case through unlawful means, is prohibited. If you threaten or hurt a witness, police officer, lawyer, judge, defendant, or plaintiff, you will be violating this rule.
4. Contempt Of Court
If you speak in a court case when not summoned to give testimony, or fail to abide by court procedure, you can be held in contempt of court for disrupting the process of the law. Each offense will hold a stricter punishment, starting at a $20 fine.
Thank you for following these rules in all court cases, whether you are involved or not.
RESPONSE TIMES
Parties are required to respond to the court within 48 hours of being summonsed, subpoenaed, or to any other request for information or communication addressed to the party unless otherwise provided by the presiding officer.
PROCEEDINGS
IN-GAME TRIALS
When creating a lawsuit through the process outlined in the Creating a Lawsuit Guide, players may opt to have their trials held in-game. Some may find it more effective to be immersed in the courts through trials in-game, which is why this option has been provided. It is important that both parties in the case agree upon this option, as well as a set time.
It is important that it is made convenient for both parties. If the Defendant or Plaintiff does not agree to this option, or cannot agree upon a set time, the trial will continue on the forums.
Trial Proceedings
The process of in-game trials will remain similar to the process outlined in the above Court Process, with the complaint being filed on forums, and Defendant answering such complaint on forums. Once the complaint has been answered, if both parties agree to hold a trial in-game, they may contact the Judge presiding over the case to arrange a time. When a time has been decided, the in-game trial will begin with opening statements, then continue with the rest of the process outlined in the court process.
In all in-game trials, a Police Officer will be required to act as a Bailiff, to ensure that order is kept within the courts, and to issue fines to anyone whom is in contempt. As shown in the image at the bottom, trials will be held in the courtroom, in which players may come to watch the case in action.
Court Briefing
For an in-game trial, a detailed briefing will be made along with the verdict, posted on the forums. This briefing will be composed of notes taken during the trial, by a Judge or a person otherwise appointed to record such.
The briefing will include:
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
The Classification Act allows the government to utilize a process in which a 'closed court' can occur. Classified information can be used in court whereby appropriate. The presiding Judge will considering whether the content of the evidence should be displayed in an open court thread, or a more private area.
The Attorney General may request that classified evidence is shared in a closed court upon filing a case.
Closed court releases of classified evidence are facilitated through the Judiciary of Redmont's official discord. In this discord, a category with channels relating to such cases have been established. Court officials and the respective parties to the case (Defendant, Defendant's Counsel, etc.) will be able to view this evidence. Evidence will be specifically numbered by court officials so they can be cited during the public case.
The discord channels relating to the classified evidence in a court case will only feature the respective evidence and the numbering assigned to that evidence. Any other discussion or arguments presented in that channel will not be considered. All other procedures will continue to take place on the forums.
Should names need to be classified under this evidence, court officials may also provide specific numbering to each respective confidential witness and or otherwise, to be used in formal arguments. (ie if BobGamer123 is featured in a screenshot that is classified evidence, the court may assign the name "John Doe" or "Witness #1" whereby appropriate).
Both judicial officials and the parties involved should not share this classified information with respect to anywhere else as they may be charged with a Breach of Integrity under the law.
These are the established rules and procedures of the Court of the Commonwealth of Redmont. It is important that lawyers and any player who is filing a lawsuit via the information in the Creating a Lawsuit thread have an understanding of the rules and procedures this court follows.
RULES
The court is a vital institution in ensuring proper and effective justice. Therefore we have strict laws about how, when, and why to take actions in the courthouse.
1. Frivolous Court CaseIf you start a court case or lawsuit and it does not have any serious legal intent or purpose, the case will be dismissed. In addition, you will be fined $60 for breaking this law.
2. Perjury
When summoned to the court, it is assumed that you will be speaking the truth and nothing but the truth, in accordance with the Perjury Act. If you are found to be giving knowingly incorrect or false testimony in your case, you may be subject to fines of up to $50,000.
3. Obstruction Of Justice
The wilful interfering with the process of justice through influencing a party in a case through unlawful means, is prohibited. If you threaten or hurt a witness, police officer, lawyer, judge, defendant, or plaintiff, you will be violating this rule.
4. Contempt Of Court
If you speak in a court case when not summoned to give testimony, or fail to abide by court procedure, you can be held in contempt of court for disrupting the process of the law. Each offense will hold a stricter punishment, starting at a $20 fine.
Thank you for following these rules in all court cases, whether you are involved or not.
RESPONSE TIMES
Parties are required to respond to the court within 48 hours of being summonsed, subpoenaed, or to any other request for information or communication addressed to the party unless otherwise provided by the presiding officer.
PROCEEDINGS
This is a general guide on how you can expect the courts to operate.
Criminal Proceedings | Civil Proceedings | Expungement Proceedings | Appeal Proceedings | |||||
CHARGES LAID State Prosecutor | LAWSUIT FILED Plaintiff/Complainant | EXPUNGEMENT REQUEST FILED Petitioner | APPEAL FILED Appellant | |||||
| | | | | | | | |||||
PLEA Defendant | ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Defendant | ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMED Attorney General | VERDICT Judges | |||||
| | | | | | | | |||||
OPENING STATEMENT Plaintiff/Complainant | OPENING STATEMENT Plaintiff/Complainant | VERDICT Judge | (If Accepted) COURT CASE (Filed in new thread). | |||||
| |
| | | ||||||
WITNESS + TESTIMONIALS | WITNESS + TESTIMONIALS | (If Accepted) EXPUNGEMENT ORDER Judge | ||||||
| | | | |||||||
CLOSING STATEMENT Plaintiff/Complainant | CLOSING STATEMENT Plaintiff/Complainant | | ||||||
| | | | |||||||
VERDICT Judge | VERDICT Judge |
IN-GAME TRIALS
When creating a lawsuit through the process outlined in the Creating a Lawsuit Guide, players may opt to have their trials held in-game. Some may find it more effective to be immersed in the courts through trials in-game, which is why this option has been provided. It is important that both parties in the case agree upon this option, as well as a set time.
It is important that it is made convenient for both parties. If the Defendant or Plaintiff does not agree to this option, or cannot agree upon a set time, the trial will continue on the forums.
Trial Proceedings
The process of in-game trials will remain similar to the process outlined in the above Court Process, with the complaint being filed on forums, and Defendant answering such complaint on forums. Once the complaint has been answered, if both parties agree to hold a trial in-game, they may contact the Judge presiding over the case to arrange a time. When a time has been decided, the in-game trial will begin with opening statements, then continue with the rest of the process outlined in the court process.
In all in-game trials, a Police Officer will be required to act as a Bailiff, to ensure that order is kept within the courts, and to issue fines to anyone whom is in contempt. As shown in the image at the bottom, trials will be held in the courtroom, in which players may come to watch the case in action.
Court Briefing
For an in-game trial, a detailed briefing will be made along with the verdict, posted on the forums. This briefing will be composed of notes taken during the trial, by a Judge or a person otherwise appointed to record such.
The briefing will include:
- The opening statements from each party
- Notes on the evidence and witness testimonies presented
- The closing statements from each party
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
The Classification Act allows the government to utilize a process in which a 'closed court' can occur. Classified information can be used in court whereby appropriate. The presiding Judge will considering whether the content of the evidence should be displayed in an open court thread, or a more private area.
The Attorney General may request that classified evidence is shared in a closed court upon filing a case.
Closed court releases of classified evidence are facilitated through the Judiciary of Redmont's official discord. In this discord, a category with channels relating to such cases have been established. Court officials and the respective parties to the case (Defendant, Defendant's Counsel, etc.) will be able to view this evidence. Evidence will be specifically numbered by court officials so they can be cited during the public case.
The discord channels relating to the classified evidence in a court case will only feature the respective evidence and the numbering assigned to that evidence. Any other discussion or arguments presented in that channel will not be considered. All other procedures will continue to take place on the forums.
Should names need to be classified under this evidence, court officials may also provide specific numbering to each respective confidential witness and or otherwise, to be used in formal arguments. (ie if BobGamer123 is featured in a screenshot that is classified evidence, the court may assign the name "John Doe" or "Witness #1" whereby appropriate).
Both judicial officials and the parties involved should not share this classified information with respect to anywhere else as they may be charged with a Breach of Integrity under the law.
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