Galactic Civil Procedure: Jurisdiction

Civil Procedure is the body of law that sets out rules and standards for courts to hear and adjudicate civil (non-criminal) lawsuits.  Are you still awake?  While not the sexiest part of the practice of law by a long shot, it is one of the most important.  A critical part of civil procedure is jurisdiction, which governs which court can decide and rule upon a case.  What that all means is, if you want to bring a lawsuit, you need to know which court to file it with, otherwise your can can--and likely will--get thrown out for "lack of jurisdiction."  

There are two main types of jurisdiction--1) Galactic jurisdiction and 2) Regional or local jurisdiction.  The kind of case you are looking to bring will determine the correct court.  Let's look at each one:

1) Galactic Jurisdiction:  Under the Republic, the Galactic court system operates under the auspices of the Judicial Department.  The Judicial Department is responsible for two main functions--law enforcement and the legal system (See chart below).  The Republic Courts are the defined venue for cases that arise in the following circumstances:

- Interplanetary disputes (e.g., trade, taxation) between governments or corporations

- Crimes committed in orbital space (*criminal procedure to be discussed in a different post*)

- Sentients rights under the Galactic Constitution (equal treatment under the law, regardless of specie, including a prohibition against slavery)

2) Regional Jurisdiction: Simply, cases that do not fall into one of the three categories above fall under the local municipal, regional, or planetary courts

It should also be noted that under Galactic jurisdiction, after the adjudication of cases litigants can appeal to the Galactic Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court has discretion to hear cases where unsettled or novel legal issues are raised.  The Supreme Court also has original jurisdiction (the ability to try cases itself) for cases of critical galactic importance.  The bar for such cases is very high.  

Jurisdiction is a critical element of a litigants' case, and proper venue and subject matter must be correct, or else a case can be dismissed purely on procedural grounds.  Please make sure you consult an attorney to determine the correct course of action for your case.

May the Law Be with You!



Sources: 

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Republic_courts

https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Supreme_Court/Legends

Star Wars: Rise of the Separatists

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