Principle IA matter is heard before it is judged
No judgment is given upon a matter until the bench has sat upon it and both parties have been heard, save where a party will not come.
The rules of the bench
How Justice Is Done
The rules by which the Ministry takes a matter, hears it and judges it. They bind the bench as much as the parties who come before it.
The Principles
Principle IIThe finder of fact is not the judge of it
The Imperial Inquisitor gathers the facts. The Imperial Justice weighs them. The two offices are kept apart.
Principle IIIJurisdiction before coercion
The more serious the intrusion into local jurisdiction or a subject’s freedom, the clearer the ground for Imperial jurisdiction must be. (Standards, Article 29.)
Principle IVVerification before accusation
The role of inquiry is to discover the truth of an allegation, not to prove an assertion already decided upon. (Standards, Article 29.)
Principle VEvery party may be spoken for
An Imperial Advocate may act for any party before the bench, and is assigned where a party cannot find one.
Principle VIThe reasons are set down
A judgment carries the reasons for it, so that the parties and the province may know upon what ground it stands.
Principle VIIJurisdiction is not taken by hearing
A matter belonging to a Jarl’s court, to another Ministry or to the Legion is referred there. Hearing it here does not take it from them.
Principle VIIIThe judgments are published
Judgments of the bench are entered in a public register, that the law may be known and not guessed at.
What the Ministry Hears
ProsecutionProsecution at the suit of the Empire
Who stands: Brought by · The accused
SuitSuit between parties
Who stands: Complainant · Respondent
AppealAppeal from the court of a Hold
Who stands: Appellant · Court appealed from
ComplaintComplaint against an official
Who stands: Complainant · Official complained of