Uniform Court Code of the Order of the Holy Lakes

The Uniform Court Code of the Order of the Holy Lakes was adopted by the Senate of the Lakes on 10.V.1750.

General Principles

Purpose

This Code establishes uniform principles for the administration of justice within the realms of the Order of the Holy Lakes, ensuring secular courts, non-discrimination, judicial independence, and the supremacy of Order law.

Secular Justice

All courts exercising binding civil or criminal jurisdiction shall be secular, impartial, and free from religious or ideological authority.

Non-Discrimination

Courts shall not discriminate on grounds of sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, nationality, caste, language, political belief, disability, social origin, or type of sentient species.

Supremacy of Order Law

Order law supersedes any conflicting realm law, and courts shall apply Order law in all such cases.

Judicial Independence

Judges shall be independent, subject only to the law. They shall not be removed except for serious misconduct or incapacity, in accordance with procedures prescribed by law.

Fair Trial and Due Process

All courts shall guarantee fairness, equality before the law, open justice, and due process.

Court structure in the Realms

Minimum Court System

Each realm shall maintain at minimum:

a court of first instance; and
a court of final instance.

Realm Competence and Procedure

Realms shall regulate court procedure, appointment of judges, and rules of evidence, provided such laws are consistent with this Code and with Order law.

Appeals and Supreme Judicial Authority

Right of Appeal

Appeals from a realm’s highest court shall lie to the Senate of the Lakes.

Judicial Committee of the Senate

When hearing appeals, the Senate shall sit as a Judicial Committee. References in any law to appeals “to the Senate” or “to the supreme judicial authority” shall be construed as appeals to this Judicial Committee.

Finality and Enforcement

Decisions of the Judicial Committee are final and binding. All authorities of the Order and the realms shall comply with and enforce such decisions.

Arbitrations and Religious Tribunals

Arbitration Permitted

Arbitration, including religious or customary arbitration, is permitted where all parties voluntarily consent either through declaration thereof or through voluntary consent to statutes or charter of an organization.

Limits of Arbitration

Arbitration rulings must comply with:

Order law,
the law of the realm in which enforcement is sought, and

Any ruling inconsistent with these is void and unenforceable.

No Binding Religious Jurisdiction

Religious tribunals may not exercise binding civil or criminal jurisdiction, except as arbitration in accordance with Articles 12 and 13.

Final provisions

Supremacy Clause

This Code supersedes any realm law inconsistent with its provisions.

Entry into Force

This Code enters into force upon adoption by the Senate of the Lakes.