In the earlier Modernization of the Historical Constitution thread, I offered a modified version of this section of the Indoles Carta. Only one substantive change has been made along with mild rewording of language to make it clearer and more accessible. The substantive change is highlighted in red.
IV. JudicialEligibility for JuryOnly noble title holders - sitting members of The Council of the Crowned, sitting members of the House of Dukes, and Counts - are eligible to be members of the Jury. Should there be no jury, the judge will be the sole deliberator.
Appointing the Judge and AttorneysThe sitting Minister for Justice of the Imperial Cabinet shall be designated as the preferred judge for any Imperial Court Case. If the Minister for Justice is unwilling or unable to act as judge, any sitting member of the Council of the Crowned can volunteer to act as judge. Should there be available judge, the case will be adjourned until a judge can be found. Any active sitting member of the Council of the Crowned, sitting member of the House of Dukes, or Count can volunteer to be the crown prosecutor, with the responsibility of represent criminal cases brought against defendants. The defendant(s) may represent him/themselves or alternatively may request a representative whose role may be assumed by any active sitting member of the Council of the Crowned, sitting member of the House of Dukes, or Count who volunteers.
Quote:
Language added to acknowledge the new duties of the Minister for Justice, a position that did not exist when this Carta was written. All other language survives unaltered and does not need to be changed.
Deliberation and AdjudicationCases are brought before the Imperial Criminal Court, and the main participants gather before the case begins. The Judge will mediate affairs, and is entitled to unique styles and approaches, but all cases must give the jury, the defendant, the crown prosecutor, and judge fair and reasonable room for discussion. The judge reserves the right to cut statements short if they become burdensome or irrelevant to the trial. If a jury is present, they are entitled to have the second-last word. The defendant is entitled to the third-last word should there be a jury, or second-last word if not. The Judge is entitled to the final word and sentence, but agree in mind, body and spirit to fully uphold their commitment to representing the case fairly and in the interest of the Empire, and our founding ideals under the principles of organic law. The word of the peoples of the Empire must be represented by the Judge.