Supreme Court
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- "The Courts take even longer to decide things than the Senate."
- ―Padmé Amidala[src]
The Supreme Court was the highest court of law in the Old Republic, and composed the judicial branch of the Republic's government. The Supreme Court was headquartered in the Galactic Courts of Justice Building on Coruscant.
The Court consisted of twelve justices (each addressed as "Your Honor"); one of them was the Chief Justice who headed both the Court and the judicial branch. The Supreme Chancellor apparently could influence appointments to the Court in some way (at least during Palpatine's tenure), most likely through nominations.
The Supreme Court, in addition to serving as a 'court of last resort' and as a determiner of constitutional legality, the Court also tried cases involving the highest politicians and most noteworthy people in the Republic. However, at least some cases (including the trial of senators for treason) were handled by the Senate. The Court apparently had the ability to try the same case more than once; this may mean that the Republic's judicial system had no concept of double jeopardy. The Court had the ability to issue subpoenas and writs. Evidence of this can be seen in the four trials of the Trade Federation vs. the Royal House of Naboo after the Invasion of Naboo.
When the New Republic took Coruscant in 7 ABY, the Supreme Court was replaced by the Court of Justice.
[edit] Behind the scenes
The fact that there were an even number of justices on the Court would seem to indicate that either A) there was some way of resolving split decisions, perhaps with the Chief Justice or Chancellor deciding the outcome, or B) that cases ending in split decisions were thrown out of the Court without a ruling being delivered, or perhaps C) cases were decided by panels of either five, seven, or in extremely important cases, nine justices rather than by the whole Court.
[edit] Appearances
- Cloak of Deception
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic (Mentioned only)
