Galactic Tribunal

The **Galactic Tribunal**, also referred to as the Republic Tribunal, required by Article VI of the Galactic Constitution, is the high court of the Galactic Republic. It has ultimate (and largely discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over all planetary and sector court cases that involve a matter of Galactic law, or disputes between planets or sectors.

The Tribunal holds the power of judicial review, the ability to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Constitution. It is also able to strike down directives of the Supreme Chancellor for violating either the Constitution or statutory law. In addition, the Tribunal is charged with presiding over trials of "government officials."

## Establishment

The Tribunal is provided for by Article VI of the Galactic Constitution.

Concurrently with the creation of the Tribunal and confirmation of its justices, the Galactic Senate passed the Republic Tribunal and Judiciary Act, codified at III G.R.C. §§ 1 *et seq*., which regulates various details pertaining to the Tribunal. The Act expanded the Tribunal's jurisdiction beyond the constitutionally-provided jurisdiction established in Article VI of the Galactic Constitution.

## Jurisdiction

The Galactic Tribunal has two types of jurisdiction--constitutional and statutory. The Tribunal's constitutional jurisdiction is conferred by Article VI of the Galactic Constitution, which which authorizes the Tribunal to "judge the constitutionality of the actions of the government and Republic's inhabitants, as well as hole the trials of government officials." According to *In re G.S. Res. 001: Grand Admiral Appointment Resolution*, the Tribunal has Article VI jurisdiction on questions of constitutionality when three requirements are met: "First, the case must concern our Constitution. Second, it must challenge an action. Third, the action challenged must have been taken by the government or some sentient within the Republic."

The Tribunal's statutory jurisdiction was created by the Republic Tribunal and Judiciary Act, which gives the Tribunal jurisdiction over three categories of matters:

1. “Matters of controversy arising from constitutional challenges of law”;
2. “Interplanetary matters of controversy”; and
3. “Hearings regarding government officials.”

The Tribunal has statutory jurisdiction over "matters of controversy arising from constitutional challenges of law" where there is a "genuine disagreement between the parties about the matter presented to the Court" and the matter "implicates questions of constitutional law." Unlike the Tribunal's constitutional authority, there is no requirement that the matter involve an "action."

The Tribunal has statutory jurisdiction over "interplanetary matters of controversy" where the "case arises from a dispute" between different planets, or between citizens or the government of the Galactic Republic and citizens or the government of another sovereign power.

## Early Years

In *In re G.S. Res. 001: Grand Admiral Appointment Resolution*, 00 Trib. 01, the Tribunal issued its first decision, with Justice Dewey Cheatem writing for the Court. Though the immediate effect of the case was minimal--it rejected Chancellor Joseph Ibney's attempt to grant citizenship to a Chiss emigre--its reasoning had lasting importance: the Tribunal outlined many of the powers and limitations of the Supreme Chancellor, Senate, and Tribunal.

## Index of Cases

The following cases have been submitted for review by the Tribunal of the Galactic Republic.

This list (endeavors to) includes all cases with no prejudice as to the final status of the case. Cases heard by the Court and for which decisions were rendered, except for injunctions, are to be taken as precedent by all lower courts on the related matters.

Index of Cases Decided by the Tribunal of the Galactic Republic
 *In re: MDAWR Memo 006 - Material Research Continuation* | 00-02
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