Legal SOP

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Legal Operating Parameters:

This SOP is meant to guide crew members in the procedures of how to perform a proper legal trial. Violations of this SOP should be taken up with the IAA or Magistrate first and then with CentComm afterwards if need be. This SOP is intended only for Green alert levels. All crew members are granted the privilege of a fair and speedy trial.

General Trial Guidelines:

Should a crew member request a trial, they are to be granted one so long as at least an IAA or Magistrate are available. If neither are available then the Captain is to stand in as the legal representative to the best of their ability.

Outside of extraordinary circumstances, a trial must be held only during Green alert to ensure all parties may attend at full readiness.

For a trial to be fully legal under CentComm guidelines it must include the following

• Both defendant and plaintiff may choose the legal representative of their choice. Be this an IAA or a member of crew.
• Before the trial, all evidence must be shared between defending and complaining parties for examination. Surprise evidence is strictly prohibited. This evidence sharing is henceforth the Discovery Period.
• Once the trial begins, it must be expedient, taking no longer than ten minutes at the most.

Trial Proceedings Guidelines:

Within reason a trial must follow these following steps for proper trial and if need be sentencing. Please be aware that not all cases are the same and that in some situations you may need to question more witnesses or go over more evidence than the suggested. Eye witness testimony alone cannot be enough to sentence a defendant but may help a case in which physical evidence

1. The plaintiff states their case and sums up their story to the best of their ability.
2. The defendant states their case in the same manner.
3. Both the plaintiff and defendants legal representatives are able to call up at least one witness and call one piece of evidence into question.
4. The Magistrate (or legal stand in for the Magistrate) are to then deliver what they believe to be correct sentencing.

Sentencing Guidelines:

Not every trial has to be a grand affair where a traitor to NT is being charged and sentence to death. Any member of the crew may request a trial for any reason and it is upon the Magistrate to oversee such trials fairly.

• The punishment must fit the crime. Sentencing a defendant to death over robbery is a heinous offence.
• In the case of suing over lost or damaged goods, should the trial end in the favor of the plaintiff then the defendant must pay the market price in Credits to the plaintiff on the Magistrate's discretion.
• The outcome of a trial is final. If a defendant wins their case and then new evidence comes to light, they may not be charged a second time. The onus is on the plaintiff party to ensure proper evidence is presented during the discovery period.

In the extreme example of a case going to court for a capital crime, the evidence and testimonies must be iron clad. If there is any reasonable doubt on part of the Magistrate, then an execution order may not be given and the defendant instead sentenced to perma.

Trials are not a spectacle and are not to be treated as such.

While reporters are to be allowed permission to film the trial, the trial itself should not be delayed so that crew may come witness it. You may announce the beginning of the trial over Common radio for those interested to come witness.

Unruly crew who attempt to interrupt are to be removed by Security for disturbance.

An attack on the trial via any means, from welderbombing to opening fire with a weapon is to be treated as a capital crime and charged as 5-04, Terrorism.

The Magistrates discretion is final on whether a trial is to be held or not. If the station is on Violet alert and a Janitor wants to sue the Clown over a broken mop, they must be refused. Conversely if it is Red alert and the Head of Security is to be charged for gross negligence, they are legally allowed the right to a trial.