Magistrate
| Law | |
|---|---|
| Magistrate | |
 Magistrate |
Roleplay Expectations: high |
The Magistrate acts as the station's highest authority in terms of Corporate Law and sentencing. They have the (very sensible) responsibility of making sure that every sentence is applied in the most fair, and correct, way possible, and that all prisoners' rights are respected.
Their authority in terms of law is only seconded by the Captain of the station, who has the legal duty to obey the Magistrate for any matter that concerns Corporate Law.
While they spend most of their time on the Bridge counseling the Captain for law affairs, they can count on their underlings Internal Affairs Agents to do all the dirty field work, such as keeping an eye on the Security Department, and having all the paperwork filled out and transmitted to their office, because of course, they can't expect these filthy peasants to not forget about it every five minutes.
Using your fax machine as a weapon
The Magistrate's fax machine is their most deadly tools, as they have a direct communication line with Central Command, who will make sure to listen to every one of the Magistrate's requests, within reason, and act as a reliable way to have your authority assured among the Command staff.
As a Magistrate, your stamp is incredibly powerful, and with a correct fax sent with the correct wording, you can send even the most innocent-looking criminal in permanent detainment, or take the most culprit-looking innocent out of it. Remember that the Magistrate's job is quasi-entirely made of speaking with the right persons and using the right paper forms. Make sure to never forget to stamp your document, though, or your authority may greatly suffer from it.
Presiding the Courtroom
The second most important role of the Magistrate is to preside the Courtroom in the event of a trial happening.
It is the Magistrate's duty and right to call for a trial, for multiple reasons that include but are not limited to:
- Permanent detainment,
- Execution by euthanasia of a crew member,
- A public dispute between two parties.
During a trial, in the most correct setup, the Magistrate will have the role of the impartial judge, who will listen to the arguments and pleads of the defendant and plaintiff parties, usually represented by the Internal Affairs Agents, or any other person that the two parties have decided to appoint as their voice during this trial.
The trial must happen in the Courtroom, as it has an access for the public to spectate, and participate as a Jury. The decision is ultimately up to the Magistrate whether or not to listen to a Jury composed of members of the crew, as the final decision of this trial is to be taken by the Magistrate in any instance.
Having authority is not equal to being alone
The Magistrate is equipped with a very powerful, yet seemingly benign, tool at their disposition, the Law communications channel.
They can access it with the :l key. This channel is only accessible by originally five persons on the station: the Magistrate themselves, the Internal Affairs Agents, the Captain, the Blueshield Officer, and the Nanotrasen Representative.
This channel is very useful to communicate only with a restricted selection of people, and is a good way to make sure that you can discuss efficiently with only the persons needed on the affairs you are working on. Of course, the Magistrate detains the ultimate authority about Corporate Law, but nothing is better than communicating with your Internal Affairs Agents and the Nanotrasen Representative when it concerns the station's safety and Standard Operating Procedures.
You should not busy yourself with making and distributing the paperwork to Security, have your paperboys do it for you. You should also not busy yourself with listening to the crew's complaints, or any matter that can be done by them, your time is very precious and it should be used on more important matters.
