Last Updated: 03.04.06

Contents

1. Court Officials
1. Judge Advocate General
2. Panel Members
3. Backup Member
2. Types of Court Martials
1. General
3. Court Procedures
1. Preliminary Actions
2. Opening the Trial
1. Presentation of Extra/New Evidence
2. Right of Challenge
3. Pleas of the Accused
4. Voting and Verdict
3. Closing the Trial
1. Guidelines for Sentences
4. Appeals
5. Pardons
4. Offenses
1. Attempts
2. Conspiracy
3. Disrespect Towards a Superior
4. Failure To Obey An Order
5. Mutiny And Sedition
6. Aiding The Enemy
7. False Statements
8. Provoking Speech
9. Conduct Unbecoming An Officer
10. Abuse of Power
11. Villifying Speech
12. Intimidation
13. Extortion

1. Court Officers

1.1 - Judge Advocate General
The head judge of the court, the Judge Advocate General is responsible for the overall management and operation of the court. This involves selecting panel members, calling the court to order, and reviewing the performance of the panel members. The JAG is selected by the Fleet Commander to serve a term of twelve (12) months, with a possible twelve (12) month additional term pending satisfactory performance.

1.2 - Panel Members
Members of the court panel are randomly selected Command Staff officers (CS, IA, SGCOMs) who serve four (4) month terms. At the end of each term these panel members are reviewed by the JAG on their performance, which will dictate whether they are fit to serve again. Panel members may NOT serve back to back terms.

1.3 - Back-up Member
With the selection of a new panel every four months, a "spare" panel member is secretly selected by the Judge Advocate General. This panel member is only brought into court when either the Security Officer or the Defendant feel that a current member of the panel is unsuitable for fairness (i.e. old friend of the defendant, former superior officer, etc). The JAG will make the final decision on whether or not to bring in the spare panel member.

2. Types of Court Martials

2.1 - General
A General Court Martial is judged by the Judge Advocate General and a panel of four (4) other panel members. The juristiction of a General Court Martial includes any charge. Penalties are those as laid out for individual charges.

3. Court Procedures

3.1 - Preliminary Actions
Prior to a case coming to trial, a complaint is generally made to the Security Officer. The Security Officer then investigates both sides of the situation and determines if charges are warrented. In some situations, the Security Officer may decide on some punishment such as an IRC ban, rather than a full-blown trial. In other situations, there may be no grounds for a trial. In the case of there being valid charges, the Security Officer compiles all the evidence relating to the incident, draft appropriate charges and submit the documentation to the Court.

3.2 - Opening the Trial
Upon the processing of the evidence from the Security Officer, the trial case is opened. The Judge Advocate General will send out an e-mail to the defendant alerting them of the charge(s). The defendant has five (5) days to reply with a plea of "guilty" or "not guilty." If no plea is recieved in that five day period, a plea of "not guilty" will automatically be entered.

3.2.1 - Presentation of New/Extra Evidence
During the case, the accused may wish to present new or extra evidence to support their case. In order to verify the truth of the submission, the accused must give the evidence to the Judge Advocate General and Security Officer. The JAG and Security Officer will then verify the accuracy of the information and submit it to the trial panel. The JAG has the power to deny submission if he feels the submission is not relevant in the case. If the submission is approved and passed onto the trial panel. New evidence can only be submitted at this time. After you have entered your plea, no new evidence can be submitted until after a verdict is rendered.

3.2.2 - Right of Challenge
At this stage, the accused as the right to challenge a particular panel member to his or her case. The most common grounds for this would be the accused believing they would not get a fair trial with the current selection of panel members. If one of the panel is challenged, the Judge Advocate General can judge if there is grounds for the challenge. If the Judge Advocate General is challenged, the review of this goes to the Fleet Commander (FC). In either situation, if it is decided there is the possibility of bias, the challenged court officer is replaced. Reasons for challenging include:

• Bias towards or against the accused party
• Involvement in the case, either in reporting the original offense or being in the evidence
• A belief of the accused that the court official is not appropriate for the case

3.2.3 - Pleas of the Accused
After the challenging phase, the accused is then required to enter a plea to each charge within five (5) days. If the accused believes they are innocent of a charge, they must include supporting evidence or mitigating circumstances for the dismissal of the charge. The accused can, at this time, ask the Judge Advocate General any questions they may have about the judicial process.

3.2.4 - Voting and Verdict
After the submission of evidence and the pleas of the accused, the panel submit their verdicts to the Judge Advocate General. The submission should include the verdict for each charge, as well as a reason for their decision. A majority is needed for the accused to be convicted of a charge that does not result in mandatory expulsion. In the case of charges that do attract a mandatory expulsion penalty, a majority of 80% (4 of the 5 panel members) is needed.

3.3 - Closing the Trial
When a final verdict is decided, all relevant parties are informed. The sentence is issued by the JAG (in accordance to the Articles of War) and if the defendant is found guilty, the Security Officer carries out the punishment.

3.3.1 - Guidelines for Sentences
Senteces are based upon what class of offense the accused's actions fall into. Below is a summary of the classes and example punishments:

Generally there are only two reasons for deviating from a punishment for a particular offense - mitigating or aggrivating circumstances. Examples of mitigating circumstances include:

• The accused had an outstanding record before the offense
• It was the first offense by the accused
• The accused was not fully aware that their actions was wrong
• The standard punishment would be unfair and/or unjust

Examples of aggrivating circumstances include:

• The accused is a repeat offender
• The accused was aware their actions were against Emperor's Hammer rules
• The accused showed contempt towards the court
• The offense affected a large number of members and/or hindered Emperor's Hammer operations in a significant fashion
• The offense puts the Emperor's Hammer in a bad light or tarnishes the reputation of the Emperor's Hammer
• The accused holds a position of responsibility in the EMperor's Hammer and the offense involves abusing that responsibility
• Offenses that involve the violation of law in the real world

3.4 - Appeals
The accused can appeal their sentence after the trial if they have the grounds to. Grounds for an appeal include:

• Undue bias or favouritism on the part of the investigating party (ie. the Security Officer) or the trial panel
• Improper procedure in the investigation and execution of the case
• The charges and/or punishments were excessive or inappropriate for the crime
• The evidence was falsified, unadmissable or out of context
• New evidence has come to light

If there are grounds for appeal, the Fleet Commander can review and adjust the case result, including verdict and/or sentencing.

3.5 - Pardons
Pardons may be granted by the Fleet Commander only. Reasons for a pardon include:

• The accused was found to be innocent or given the benefit of the doubt
• The membership has shown that it does not want the sentence carried out
• The accused has been rehabilitated

Upon being granted a pardon, a member will usually be assigned back with a minimum rank and a probationary period. The period may include a restriction on promotions, appointments and awards. Since a great amount of trust is placed in the individual upon granting of a pardon, the highest levels of conduct are also expected.

4. Offenses

4.1 - Attempts
An act, done with specific intent to commit an offense under these articles, amounting to more than mere preparation and tending, even though failing, to effect its commission, is an attempt to commit that offense. This is generally a Class A or B offense.

4.2 - Conspiracy
An agreement between two or more persons to commit, or attempt to commit, an offense. This is generally a Class A or B offense.

4.3 - Disrespect towards a superior
An act towards a superior, either in the direct chain of command, or superior in rank or position, that mocks, degrades, insults or otherwise disrespects that superior. This is generally a Class A or B offense.

4.4 - Failure to obey an order
Failure to obey a written order or regulation (such as the Code of Conduct or Articles of War), a spoken or written order from a superior, follow duties of position or failure to enforce such orders or regulations (such as not enforcing the Code of Conduct when a channel operator). This is generally a Class B or C offense.

4.5 - Mutiny and Sedition
Willful intent to override, overthrow or disrupt the effective operation of parts of the Emperor's Hammer, either alone or with other parties, or failing to report or stop such a mutiny. This is generally a Class C offense.

4.6 - Aiding the enemy
Providing of information, intelligence, protection or other services and/or materials without proper authorisation to enemies of the Emperor's Hammer. This is generally a Class C offense.

4.7 - False statements
Submission of pilot files, fiction, graphics, records or any other file and/or document that is forged, doctored or authored/created by another party without due credit given. This can also include false recommendations, references and falsified evidence for cases. This is generally a Class B or C offense.

4.8 - Provoking speech
Speech designed to provoke a response, including to insult, injur or bait the target. The speech can be on a public forum such as message boards and IRC or in a direct communique between the parties, such as one-on-one messages, emails, etc. This is generally a Class A offense.

4.9 - Conduct unbecoming an officer
Conduct that reflects badly upon the reputation and standing of the Emperor's Hammer. This can include behaviour that is immoral, rude, insulting, etc. This is generally a Class A or B offense.

4.10 - Abuse of Power
An act that involves the use of power to further a vendetta against a member, such as the blocking of promotions, awards, appointments, villifying that member, damaging his/her reputation and/or prospects of a position, promotion or award. The abuse can also involve the unnatural favouritism towards an associate. Abuse of Power can also constitute excessive and unjust bans from IRC. This is generally a Class C offense.

4.11 - Electronic warfare
The unapproved attack, entry or infiltration of computer systems, via methods such as hacking, viruses, denial of service attacks. Providing information on performing such acts also attracts this charge. It should be noted that such activity is also a criminal offense in many nations. This is generally a Class C offense.

4.12 - Villifying Speech
Demeaning or harassing speech based upon a member's race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, any mental and/or physical disabilities or illnesses. It should be noted that in some countries, such speech is a criminal offense. This is generally a Class C offense.

4.13 - Intimidation
The use of threats, such as threats of physical violence, hacking, damaging of a member's career/advancement or a general threat. This is generally a Class B or C offense.

4.14 - Extortion/Blackmail
Extortion of another member for personal gain or for gain of a third party. This is generally a Class C offense.

-----
Emperor's Hammer Justice System Articles of War 1.0, July 2005
Authors: GA Astatine, FA Vladet
-----
Revision History
1.0 - Final Public