StarWarsLaw

  Bounty Hunters have a pretty bad reputation around the Galaxy--the term "scum" is a commonly used descriptor of those in the profession.  However, the perception of Bounty Hunters as lawless criminals untethered by rules is largely misplaced.  The truth is, the Bounty Hunters' Guild is a licensed and sanctioned organization that has various  rules and regulations that it requires its members to uphold.  This post offers a quick summary of the law that governs Bounty Hunters and procedures to resolve disputes. There are actually two sets of regulations that Bounty Hunters are subject to--The Bounty Hunters' Creed and Guild Rules.  The Creed is a strict code of conduct that binds all Hunters, and deviation from them is actionable and subject to harsh enforcement. The Guild Rules are more specific guidelines that lay out expected behaviors of its members. Bounty Hunters' Creed The Creed is comprised of 6 tenets: 1) People don't have bounties.  Only acqu...

  The planet Mandalore has had a long and troubled history, rife with conflict and strife.  The Mandalorians were known galaxy-wide as a fearsome warrior populace who battled the Jedi, the Empire, and even themselves in civil war.  As part of their rigid internal culture, they were bound by certain rules and conventions.  The Mandalorian Creed was their main set of rules that defined what it meant to be a "true Mandalorian." This included attributes such as loyalty, solidarity, and a commitment to helping fellow Mandalorians.  Another element of the Creed was that the Darksaber--the ancient black-bladed lightsaber originally owned by Tarre Vizsla--could be won in battle, and the victor that wielded the blade could lead all of Mandalore.  While the Mandalorian Creed was the core set of governing rules, other members of Mandalorian society splintered off to create even stricter rules of behavior.  The Way of the Mandalore was a quasi-religious code ...

  After a remarkably long period of consistent legal doctrines, the Galaxy has seen dramatic shifts in governing laws over the past 30 years as the Republic declined, the Empire ascended--and was subsequently defeated--and the New Republic was then established.  Each regime has had a governing legal document that set forth various principles establishing  rules of conduct, and each with a different focus. 1)  The Galactic Constitution The Galactic Constitution was the basis for Galactic law for over 25,000 years.  It established the Republic on the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy, with a core element being the Rights of Sentience.  This particular clause outlawed slavery, holding that all conscious, sentient life forms deserved equal freedoms and rights in the Republic.  The Galactic Constitution also created a government that contained an Executive Branch, led by the Supreme Chancellor; a Legislative Branch that invested powers with the ...

Like most of the workings of the Galaxy, comprehensive and accredited legal education is focused mostly within the Core worlds.  The Galactic Bar Association (GBA) is the governing body that oversees school admission standards, curriculum, and professional certification. There are about 150 GBA-accredited law schools scattered across the Core, but the most four most prestigious and competitive are: The Coruscant College of Law; Corellia University Law School; Kuat Law School; and the University of Chandrila School of Law.  Graduates from those top schools are highly sought after and typically have the widest choice of career opportunities after graduation. It should also be noted that three other elite schools, those on Alderaan, Hosnian Prime, and Brentaal, were sadly destroyed in the course  of the Clone Wars and the subsequent Imperial reign.   I am very proud and fortunate to be an alumnus of the Coruscant College of Law (Go Fighting Senators!) and my three ...

  One of the most commonly known and galactically acknowledged legal principles is that "possession is 9/10 of the law."  It is certainly true that  ownership is easier to claim if a person has possession of something, and difficult to enforce if a person does not.   While there are many exceptions to this principle, in general if someone possesses something, it is fair to assume that they legally own it.   Ownership of the Darksaber, the  black -bladed  lightsaber  created by  Tarre Vizsla--  the first  Mandalorian  ever inducted into the  Jedi Order-- is a fascinating conflict between established law and ancient, deep-rooted cultural beliefs.  One such set of beliefs, the Mandalorian Creed, holds that the possessor of the Darksaber is the rightful leader of the planet Mandalore.  However, possession is not enough to claim the mantle of leadership--the possessor must also have won the Darksaber in combat....

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 fun...

  Few images evoke the military might of the Empire more than that those of a company of All Terrain Armored Transports (AT-ATs or Imperial Walkers), in formation, blazing a path of destruction on a battlefield.  Designed and manufactured by Kuat Drive Yards, they featured near-impenetrable armor and were equipped with extremely powerful offensive weapons systems,  capable of inflicting significant damage to opposing forces while simultaneously demoralizing resistance.  See ,  AT-AT  (courtesy of Wookiepedia). However, as mentioned above, as powerful as AT-ATs were, they not impenetrable.  In fact, they were significantly flawed.  They had numerous areas of vulnerability: 1) its flexible neck, which if punctured, could  lead to a catastrophic reactor breach; 2) unstable  legs which were susceptible to tripping and incapacitation, rendering then defenseless; and 3)  a lack of armor covering on its underbelly, leaving the spot vu...

  Carbonite freezing has a long and storied history.  Its uses have varied from safe and effective transport of materials; to voluntary freezing of sentient beings for extended travel or military operations; to the most well-known usage—capture and delivery of bounties.  See  https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Carbon-freezing .  But, what happens if you are one of those bounties? Legally, if a licensed member of the Bounty Hunter Guild captures you pursuant to a contract, they have broad discretion as to the method of your transport.  As a (former) Guild member famously said, "I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold." While that may be true in some circumstances, it is not always the case.  The Bounty contract is a complex and lengthy legal document, and terms vary from quarry to quarry depending on a variety of circumstances including: client preferences; underlying offense; potential for violence; species; value of target; planetary s...

  For most galactic citizens, a trip to your local Cantina is a great way to commune with a diverse set of species, raise a glass, laugh, and sing along to a classic Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes ditty.  But, as most Cantina owners know, that idyllic notion is often shattered by blaster fire, fist/tentacle fights, shattered tables and glasses , dismemberment, and other general mayhem.  This involves a significant amount of potential liability for Cantina owners.  How do you mitigate your risk? Smart owners will have in place processes and procedures to proactively prepare for these issues.  For instance, there should be a notice, prominently displayed at the front of the establishment, laying out specific codes of conduct and behavior.  This should include include, at a minimum, the following prohibitions:  1) No brandishing, threatening, or using weapons without justification or provocation.  This includes: Blasters, Bowcasters, Wrist Rockets, ...

 The Jedi--guardians of peace and justice in the Galaxy.  Wielders of the Force,  an energy field created by all living things that surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the Galaxy together.  And for the most part, Jedi are true heroes and use the Force responsibly and in an effort to carry out their stated mission.  With that, no one--not even Jedi-- are omniscient or infallible.  What happens when a Jedi makes a mistake, or worse, crosses the line and uses their power for more nefarious purposes?  There is--literally--a trail of arms, legs, hands, paws, horns, beaks, claws, and tentacles that evidence a potential unchecked use of power (See Exhibit A).  There are also countless examples of unwitting victims who were coerced by Jedi and their Force-aided Mind Tricks to do their bidding (See Exhibit B & C).   Exhibit A: A collection of Jedi lightsaber dismemberment--  Jedi Loss of Appendages Exhibit B:  An authorized game ...

So you have been injured at work--it could have be a faulty tractor beam coupling, a slippery deck, or a Force choke by an agitated senior leader.  And you think to yourself: "Hey, I work for the Empire--an authoritarian hegemony of epic proportions, led by an ageless Sith Lord of near unimaginable power and unparalleled cunning--what can I possibly do to get help with my medical bills?"  The truth is, just because you have decided to become an insignificant expendable resource in an enormous military-industrial apparatus does NOT mean you that you have checked your legal rights at the door.   In fact, the law might be the only thing you have on your side.  Consider this--what does a near-deity who can cut a Jedi down with one blow and shoot Force Lightning out of his fingers at will--fear?  The answer is: disorder and chaos--the exact elements that the law was created to avoid.  Whether the Empire likes it or not, its very existence is based on rules,...