Judiciary of Ventora

The judiciary of Ventora is the branch of the government of Ventora that interprets and applies the laws of Ventora to ensure equal justice under law and provide a mechanism for dispute resolution.

Law
Ventora's legal system is a system. As such, the application of law depends on comprehensive legal codes. , consisting of six key documents collectively known as the Fundamental Law of Ventora, underpins all other law in the country.

Courts in Ventora operate under an. The courts participate in the investigation of the facts of the case. Procurators serve to lead the investigatory process and prosecution of the case. In criminal matters, the Directorate for Criminal Investigations (Dirección de Investigaciones Criminales, DIC), a component of the Interior Commission often provides assistance, particularly in regard to technical matters and expertise.

The accused in any case has the right to, fair and equal treatment under the law, and to a trial by jury. The accused may also avail themselves of legal representation, called an advocate (defensor/a), to assist with their case. Jurors must be at least 20 years old and a Ventoran national who is legally competent without a record of criminal convictions.

Courts
Below the State Supreme Court and the highest court in each duchy, the courts specialize by type of law, as follows:
 * , including, and
 * , including, and

Duchies have their own judicial court systems for matters of duchy laws. At the national level, the court system consists of four tiers. There are separate courts for each type of law at the lower two tiers. Each higher tier is superior to the lower tiers.

State Supreme Court


At the top of the judiciary is the State Supreme Court (Corte Suprema Estatal). It may choose or decline to hear matters appealed to it from any court in the land. The State Supreme Court consists of nine magistrates (dikastés). Three magistrates are professional judges appointed for life by the regent with consent of the Grand Council of State. The People's Assembly elects the other magistrates to staggered 12 year terms: three are professional judges and three are assessors.

High Courts of Justice
High Courts of Justice (Corte Superior de Justicia) are an charged with hearing all matters on appeal from a court of justice. There are 27 High Courts of Justice: one located in each of the 26 duchies and one to hear questions related to the military and certain governance-related affairs. Each High Court in the duchies has four chambers: criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative. Hearings take place before a panel of three professional judges elected to staggered six year terms and two assessors elected from the populace to staggered four year terms.

Courts of Justice
A Court of Justice (Tribunal de Justicia) hears all matters of serious violations submitted to it by a Court of Inquiry. The Court of Justice also reviews cases of minor matters appealed to it from the Court of Inquiry. A professional judge, who serves a five year term, presides over a Court of Justice and has two assessors to assist him or her. The assessors are lay judges elected from the local population to serve two year terms. The Court of Justice takes its decisions by simple majority. There are separate Courts of Justice for each type of law.

Courts of Inquiry
As the court of first instance, a Court of Inquiry (Corte del Indagación) has responsibility to investigate alleged violations to determine the relevant facts. For serious violations, the court submits its findings to a Court of Justice. In minor matters, the Court of Inquiry adjudicates the case. A professional judge who serves a five-year term presides over a Court of Inquiry. There are separate Courts of Inquiry for each type of law.

Administration
The Judicial Assistancy (Asistencía Judicial), an independent agency, administers the judicial system at the national level. It provides the professional judges, procurators, and other personnel and support services to keep the wheels of justice turning. The 15-member General Council of the Judiciary (Consejo General del Poder Judicial, CGPJ) governs the judiciary and assigns the professional judges to the courts below the State Supreme Court.