Grand Ducal Court

The Grand Ducal Court is the judicial branch of the Government of Westarctica.

History

The Grand Ducal Court was discussed by members of the Constitutional Convention during their creation of the Constitution of Westarctica in early 2019, when it was determined that Westarctica would require a third branch of government in order to function as a legitimate constitutional monarchy. During this process, it was decided that the Justices of the Court would be appointed by the Grand Duke, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Court was brought into existence on 17 September 2019 when Grand Duke Travis signed Ordinance 001, which outlined the composition and duties of the Grand Ducal Court.

Composition

The Grand Ducal Court can have no more than five Justices. They are appointed for life and may not hold any other position in the government during their tenure. If a Justice fails to pass an opinion on two consecutive matters, they are deemed to be absentee and are automatically retired from their post. In other cases of negligence or unbecoming conduct, the Grand Duke has the option to remove a Justice, but this may be blocked by the other Justices together with the Prime Minister.

Chief Justice

The Chief Justice is the longest-tenured Justice on the Grand Ducal Court and is responsible for presiding over the Court. The Chief Justice serves on the Royal Council as a legal advisor to the Grand Duke, although they are still independent from the executive branch.