Post by Judge Breakfast on Aug 13, 2016 0:41:21 GMT -5
If a citizen of the Internet wishes to bring a case to the Internet Court of Law (ICL), he must do one of two things:
1) Join the ICL forum and state the details of the case they wish to try in their Introduction post.
2) Remain off the ICL forum, but contact an ICL Lawyer and have them pass on the details of their case via PM to a Judge. (NOTE: IF YOU TAKE THIS ROUTE, YOU WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE TRIAL AS YOUR PUBLIC DEFENDER ARGUES FOR YOU. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR PLEAD FOR YOURSELF. BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU CHOOSE THIS ROUTE)
It is important to note that a case is more likely to go on trial if both the Plaintiff and the Defendant have signed up to the ICL Forum and written introduction posts explaining their sides of the story. Cases can go to trial without a defendant present, but the ICL would much rather prefer both sides knowing about the trial.
Once a case has been approved by a Judge for trial, said Judge shall make a post in the “Official ICL Cases” Subforum with the title of [Plaintiff Username] v. [Defendant Username]. The first post shall be written by the Judge, and contain the details of the case as well as two deadlines.
Deadline 1) Lawyer Selection deadline. The Plaintiff and Defendant must select their official ICL Lawyers (or receive approval from Judge Breakfast to represent themselves [which is not recommended]) by this date. If they do not, an ICL lawyer will be appointed to them by the Judge.
Deadline 2) End of Discovery date. By this date, lawyers must finish gathering the evidence they will use for the trial and submit it to the Judge working on their case. In addition, they must have their opening statements ready by this date.
Once both deadlines have been reached, the Plaintiff shall make his opening statement first, followed by the Defendant’s opening statement. Remember that you are addressing the Judge in this opening statement. There is no Jury in ICL court.
Following opening statements, the assigned Judge shall ask whatever questions he sees fit to make a final decision. The person the question is addressed to shall answer first, and the opponent may make a rebuttal after. This cycle shall be repeated until decision is reached.
If a Plaintiff or Defendant wishes to object, they may do so at any time. However, this objection may be overruled by the judge for any reason.
When the Judge has reached a final decision, he shall state that he has made up his mind, but shall not state in whose favor. He shall ask for closing statements, the Plaintiff shall make his closing statement, and then the Defendant shall make his closing statement. Only after closing statements are made will the Judge state his final decision. This is so that there is an opportunity for debate to go on if one or the other brings in a new point at the last second.
Once the judge gives the final guilty or innocent statement, he shall recommend a course of action for the defendant (if they are found guilty) to recompense for their damages. After that, the case shall be closed and the thread shall be opened up to comment from observers.
1) Join the ICL forum and state the details of the case they wish to try in their Introduction post.
2) Remain off the ICL forum, but contact an ICL Lawyer and have them pass on the details of their case via PM to a Judge. (NOTE: IF YOU TAKE THIS ROUTE, YOU WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE TRIAL AS YOUR PUBLIC DEFENDER ARGUES FOR YOU. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR PLEAD FOR YOURSELF. BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU CHOOSE THIS ROUTE)
It is important to note that a case is more likely to go on trial if both the Plaintiff and the Defendant have signed up to the ICL Forum and written introduction posts explaining their sides of the story. Cases can go to trial without a defendant present, but the ICL would much rather prefer both sides knowing about the trial.
Once a case has been approved by a Judge for trial, said Judge shall make a post in the “Official ICL Cases” Subforum with the title of [Plaintiff Username] v. [Defendant Username]. The first post shall be written by the Judge, and contain the details of the case as well as two deadlines.
Deadline 1) Lawyer Selection deadline. The Plaintiff and Defendant must select their official ICL Lawyers (or receive approval from Judge Breakfast to represent themselves [which is not recommended]) by this date. If they do not, an ICL lawyer will be appointed to them by the Judge.
Deadline 2) End of Discovery date. By this date, lawyers must finish gathering the evidence they will use for the trial and submit it to the Judge working on their case. In addition, they must have their opening statements ready by this date.
Once both deadlines have been reached, the Plaintiff shall make his opening statement first, followed by the Defendant’s opening statement. Remember that you are addressing the Judge in this opening statement. There is no Jury in ICL court.
Following opening statements, the assigned Judge shall ask whatever questions he sees fit to make a final decision. The person the question is addressed to shall answer first, and the opponent may make a rebuttal after. This cycle shall be repeated until decision is reached.
If a Plaintiff or Defendant wishes to object, they may do so at any time. However, this objection may be overruled by the judge for any reason.
When the Judge has reached a final decision, he shall state that he has made up his mind, but shall not state in whose favor. He shall ask for closing statements, the Plaintiff shall make his closing statement, and then the Defendant shall make his closing statement. Only after closing statements are made will the Judge state his final decision. This is so that there is an opportunity for debate to go on if one or the other brings in a new point at the last second.
Once the judge gives the final guilty or innocent statement, he shall recommend a course of action for the defendant (if they are found guilty) to recompense for their damages. After that, the case shall be closed and the thread shall be opened up to comment from observers.