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{{TOS twelve colonies series}} | {{TOS twelve colonies series}} | ||
The '''law of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies of Man]]''' is unique. | The '''law of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Twelve Colonies of Man]]''' is unique. | ||
Even in the [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] after the [[Battle of Cimtar|Cylon attack]], the laws of the Colonies and their mechanisms have remained intact. | Even in the [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] after the [[Battle of Cimtar|Cylon attack]], the laws of the Colonies and their mechanisms have remained intact. | ||
The highest sentence that can be meted out by the Colonial system is life imprisonment. No death penalty exists. | The highest sentence that can be meted out by the Colonial system is life imprisonment. No death penalty exists. | ||
== Law == | == Law == | ||
Colonial society views various activities as criminal and prosecutable, including: | Colonial society views various activities as criminal and prosecutable, including: | ||
=== Premeditated human termination === | === Premeditated human termination === | ||
Premeditated human termination, better known as murder, is punishable by imprisonment. | Premeditated human termination, better known as murder, is punishable by imprisonment. | ||
=== Illegal presences aboard ships in the Fleet === | === Illegal presences aboard ships in the Fleet === | ||
People on ships in the Fleet under assumed names (like [[Elias]], [[Chella]] and [[Karibdis]]), having avoided being logged in the [[Fleet computer]], may receive minor punishments. | People on ships in the Fleet under assumed names (like [[Elias]], [[Chella]] and [[Karibdis]]), having avoided being logged in the [[Fleet computer]], may receive minor punishments. | ||
=== Self-defense === | === Self-defense === | ||
The result of a self-defense plea, when it involves the termination (death) of an individual, results in a suspended sentence. To those in the [[Colonial Fleet (TOS)|Colonial Fleet]] who are charged with this, they are dismissed from the service. | The result of a self-defense plea, when it involves the termination (death) of an individual, results in a suspended sentence. To those in the [[Colonial Fleet (TOS)|Colonial Fleet]] who are charged with this, they are dismissed from the service. | ||
=== Treason === | === Treason === | ||
Those found guilty of treason can be imprisoned for life, as is the case with {{TOS|Baltar}} ("[[War of the Gods, Part II]]," "[[Murder on the Rising Star]]," et al.) | Those found guilty of treason can be imprisoned for life, as is the case with {{TOS|Baltar}} ("[[War of the Gods, Part II]]," "[[Murder on the Rising Star]]," et al.) | ||
== Roles == | == Roles == | ||
[[File:ChiefOpposer.jpg|thumb|right|Chief Opposer Solon and Starbuck's Protector approach the bench {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}.]] | [[File:ChiefOpposer.jpg|thumb|right|Chief Opposer Solon and Starbuck's Protector approach the bench {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}.]] | ||
There are different roles in the Colonial justice system, namely: | There are different roles in the Colonial justice system, namely: | ||
* '''Opposer''', which acts as the prosecution | * '''Opposer''', which acts as the prosecution | ||
* '''Protector''', which acts as the defense for the accused. | * '''Protector''', which acts as the defense for the accused. | ||
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== Tribunal system == | == Tribunal system == | ||
Colonial judicial proceedings are called tribunals. They are held 10 [[centar]]s after a plea from the accused is formally entered. Postponements cannot be granted under the circumstances of premeditated human termination charges. | Colonial judicial proceedings are called tribunals. They are held 10 [[centar]]s after a plea from the accused is formally entered. Postponements cannot be granted under the circumstances of premeditated human termination charges. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 39: | ||
The tribunal is convened to hear out the case. The tribunal, which judges the case, consists of three people that hear out the arguments of both sides {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}. | The tribunal is convened to hear out the case. The tribunal, which judges the case, consists of three people that hear out the arguments of both sides {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}. | ||
== Tie-in Material Information == | |||
* ''According to ''[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):'' | |||
: A fundamental Human liberty recognized in the [[Books of the Lords of Kobol]] themselves is the right of the criminally accused to a fair trial before an impartial tribunal. The exact nature of tribunals has varied from Colony to Colony over time, but certain basic elements are essential to a valid conviction. The judge must be a highly-trained state official with no prior knowledge of the defendant and no other interest in the case than that the law be faithfully executed. A trial must follow procedures set out carefully in advance, and if the accused is once acquitted, he or she may never again be tried for the same crime. In some Colonies, the ultimate questions of fact—for example, is the accused the one who committed the crime—are determined by a jury of citizens untrained in law and unfamiliar with the facts of the case. This peculiar system seems guaranteed to produce less accurate results than, for example, the [[Scorpion|Scorpian]] system in which a panel of professional investigators aided by physiological truth detectors and probability-calculating computers determine the facts of each case. <ref>{{cite_book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|authorlink=|authorlinkurl=|coauthors=|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|publisher=|location=|id=|pages=54-55}}</ref> | |||
[[Category: A to Z]] | [[Category: A to Z]] | ||
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[[Category: Colonial Society (TOS)]] | [[Category: Colonial Society (TOS)]] | ||
[[Category: TOS]] | [[Category: TOS]] | ||
[[fr:Loi et justice dans les Douze Colonies (LSO)]] | [[fr:Loi et justice dans les Douze Colonies (LSO)]] | ||
Revision as of 05:30, 8 September 2025
| Part of the series on | |
The law of the Twelve Colonies of Man is unique. Even in the Fleet after the Cylon attack, the laws of the Colonies and their mechanisms have remained intact. The highest sentence that can be meted out by the Colonial system is life imprisonment. No death penalty exists.
Law
Colonial society views various activities as criminal and prosecutable, including:
Premeditated human termination
Premeditated human termination, better known as murder, is punishable by imprisonment.
Illegal presences aboard ships in the Fleet
People on ships in the Fleet under assumed names (like Elias, Chella and Karibdis), having avoided being logged in the Fleet computer, may receive minor punishments.
Self-defense
The result of a self-defense plea, when it involves the termination (death) of an individual, results in a suspended sentence. To those in the Colonial Fleet who are charged with this, they are dismissed from the service.
Treason
Those found guilty of treason can be imprisoned for life, as is the case with Baltar ("War of the Gods, Part II," "Murder on the Rising Star," et al.)
Roles
There are different roles in the Colonial justice system, namely:
- Opposer, which acts as the prosecution
- Protector, which acts as the defense for the accused.
The role of "Chief Opposer" is apparently obtained by any respected, seasoned Opposer, such as Sire Solon.
Both Opposers and Protectors have the unique ability to investigate crimes without the need of a separate investigator. Their activities include the collection of evidence for their case and the ability to question witnesses and related parties.
Chief Opposers can also receive and enter in the plea of the accused, regardless of whether or not they are guilty. It is unknown if this ability is shared with lower-level Opposers. Furthermore, they can offer alternatives to the accused to mitigate their sentences, such as pleas of self-defense when faced with termination charges.
In addition, Opposers and Protectors can be interviewed by Inter-Fleet Broadcasting and other press junkets to talk about the merits of the case before the tribunal is convened.
Tribunal system
Colonial judicial proceedings are called tribunals. They are held 10 centars after a plea from the accused is formally entered. Postponements cannot be granted under the circumstances of premeditated human termination charges.
When faced with charges of premeditated termination, the suspect or accused party is held in detention until the tribunal.
The tribunal is convened to hear out the case. The tribunal, which judges the case, consists of three people that hear out the arguments of both sides (TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star").
Tie-in Material Information
- According to Encyclopedia Galactica (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):
- A fundamental Human liberty recognized in the Books of the Lords of Kobol themselves is the right of the criminally accused to a fair trial before an impartial tribunal. The exact nature of tribunals has varied from Colony to Colony over time, but certain basic elements are essential to a valid conviction. The judge must be a highly-trained state official with no prior knowledge of the defendant and no other interest in the case than that the law be faithfully executed. A trial must follow procedures set out carefully in advance, and if the accused is once acquitted, he or she may never again be tried for the same crime. In some Colonies, the ultimate questions of fact—for example, is the accused the one who committed the crime—are determined by a jury of citizens untrained in law and unfamiliar with the facts of the case. This peculiar system seems guaranteed to produce less accurate results than, for example, the Scorpian system in which a panel of professional investigators aided by physiological truth detectors and probability-calculating computers determine the facts of each case. [1]
- ↑ Kraus, Bruce (1979). Encyclopedia Galactica, p. 54-55.