Order of Judges

"Not a friendly lot, at any rate."

- Cain Knightlord

The Order of Judges or just the Judges were the chief arbiters and enforcers of law in the Eriaduan Empire under Emperor Antonio de Borgia and later Cain Knightlord.

History
As Eriaduan influence increased throughout the Outer Rim Territories so to did crime and regional conflict. Emperor de Borgia wanted a way to reduce the lengthy judicial process, so a military-style court was created, the Order of Judges being at its head.

All who made it into the elite college of Judges absolutely loyal to the Eriaduan Empire and its Emperor, or rather whomever sat upon the throne and coveted the title. At the end of the Ascension Wars when the Rosen Kreuz Orden took control of the Empire, though with reluctance, the Order of Judges swore their allegiance.

Powers
The Order of Judges, while technically a part of the Ministry of Law, the Eriaduan Empire’s judicial branch, they, as chief enforcers of Eriaduan law, were also the executive body of the Empire under the Emperor. It was chaired by the Commandant of the Eriaduan Fleet. The Judges convened at the behest of the Commandant, or in order to debate, pass, or dissolve laws of an inter-jurisdictional nature and taxation. Laws, regulations, regional taxation and the like were all handled by the Judges individually, with few known checks or balances to their authority inside their given spheres of control. Judges also had authority over regional forces within their jurisdictions. On the highest level, the Commandant of the Imperial Forces commanded the remainder of the Eriaduan Empire's military assets through the regular chain of command in both the Eriaduan Navy and the Eriaduan Army. In times of emergency, or at the Commandant's discretion, the Fleets that were normally answerable to the individual Judges were commanded by the Commandant.

By 133 ABY, the Judges held considerably more power, and were true partners to the Emperor. At the end of the war, they pledged allegiance to Cain Knightlord, although some of them still harbored sympathy to Antonio de Borgia.

Composition
The Order of Judges was comprised of hundreds of men and women. They all held immense legal power in his or her own right over lower-ranked Eriaduan military officers. There is one Chief Justice who is chief of staff of the Order to the Emperor and the Order's de facto leader.

Known Members



 * Chief Justice Petros (also Commandant and ranking member of the Order)
 * Judge Magister Paula (also Head of Eriaduan Secret Police)
 * Judge Matthaois
 * Judge Andreas
 * Judge Philippos
 * Judge Bartholomaios