Haikarian Court Building
The Haikarian Court Building houses the Court of Equity and the Court of Law, both of which make up the two judicial branches under Saebian law. The building sits on a hill near the western banks of the Medios River opposite of the Saebian Temple. Its construction was begun and finished during the fourth year of Human Era (4 HE).
Early Saebian settlers initially adopted the code of law in use in their mother country, Saebos, on the moon Prakyun; however, they quickly found the law impossible to enforce and adjudicate without the institutions and personnel necessary to uphold it. The majority of early colonial cases required remedies to disputes as opposed to criminal cases or decisions about or application of the law. The Saebians kept the law code of the metropole, but decoupled the institutions of the court as they existed therein into two branches: the Court of Equity and the Court of Law.
I kept my arms and legs tucked tight to my chest. Otherwise, my feet hung past the edge of the cot clearly designed for humans. Besides, a chill penetrated everything and the thin bedding provided no heat or comfort. The dull blue light of winter's night shone through my window enough that I focused more on the the cracks in the wall than on the decision of my fate to come the next morning.
Before the sky turned yellow, the Saebians escorted me from the cell. I recall feeling a parting sadness, as the room allowed a meditative quietness not easily found in my recent years. Upon leaving the detainment center, the escorts and I were joined by ten others, whom I later learned were to be my judges, dressed in violet robes. We proceeded down through the city towards the Melios River.
Could these creatures, these humans, give me honest justice? Or was their idea of the concept so entirely different that I had no hope the moment I was taken into custody? Nevertheless, I was at their mercy. Yet, somehow walking through the massive bronze doors of the courthouse I felt that despite its foreignness, this solemn house of Saebia would judge me in fairness.
History
Before the construction of the Haikarian Court Building, the court met in the forum of Saebia City. The location of the court changed often during the early seasons and years of the colony, as did many Saebian institutions.Early Saebian settlers initially adopted the code of law in use in their mother country, Saebos, on the moon Prakyun; however, they quickly found the law impossible to enforce and adjudicate without the institutions and personnel necessary to uphold it. The majority of early colonial cases required remedies to disputes as opposed to criminal cases or decisions about or application of the law. The Saebians kept the law code of the metropole, but decoupled the institutions of the court as they existed therein into two branches: the Court of Equity and the Court of Law.
Court of Equity
For parties seeking remedy, their cases are handled by the Saebian Court of Equity. The court is composed of 50 Saebian adults, selected at random, to serve for one Sekoran year. Individual cases are heard by 10 of these members. These Haikari (ten presiders) deliberate, vote on, and hand down a final decision. Remedies must be approved by six of the ten Haikari.Court of Law
The Saebian Court of Law presides over criminal cases, and similar to the Court of Equity is composed of 50 randomly-selected Saebian adults, serving single Sekoran-year terms. Of these 50, ten Haikari preside over the cases brought before the court serving as both judges and jury members.References in Literature
The following excerpt from The Journals of Kakur Hith is translated from the original Sugranese.
I kept my arms and legs tucked tight to my chest. Otherwise, my feet hung past the edge of the cot clearly designed for humans. Besides, a chill penetrated everything and the thin bedding provided no heat or comfort. The dull blue light of winter's night shone through my window enough that I focused more on the the cracks in the wall than on the decision of my fate to come the next morning.
Before the sky turned yellow, the Saebians escorted me from the cell. I recall feeling a parting sadness, as the room allowed a meditative quietness not easily found in my recent years. Upon leaving the detainment center, the escorts and I were joined by ten others, whom I later learned were to be my judges, dressed in violet robes. We proceeded down through the city towards the Melios River.
"The first premise of a society is justice, and without a stage nothing can be performed." — Noya Menas, chief architect and designer of the Haikarian Court BuildingBy the time we had walked to the bridge, it was the start of double-dawn. We walked towards the setting star that had dyed the sky a deep red, but as I looked up, Sekora had changed its blacks and blues for purples, yellows, and greens. The colors seemed to reflect my thoughts, swirling and aimless, but soon a grand whiteness filled my gaze: The Haikarian Court. A towering dome supported by decorative columns dominated the hill it sat upon. As we scaled the stairs to the entrance, I noticed myself recoiling at the statues and depictions that remained incomprehensible to me: a human child kneeling and holding a mask and torch, a standing woman holding a tablet with the human phrase for "of, by, and under the law" inscribed, and a large relief above the doors depicting a man felling a large plant, presumably a species native to Prakyun.
Could these creatures, these humans, give me honest justice? Or was their idea of the concept so entirely different that I had no hope the moment I was taken into custody? Nevertheless, I was at their mercy. Yet, somehow walking through the massive bronze doors of the courthouse I felt that despite its foreignness, this solemn house of Saebia would judge me in fairness.
Founding Date
4 HE
Owning Organization
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