This article belongs to the lore of Kouralia.

Justiciars of Kouralia

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The Hovae aþe’Gyustycyaras (Court of Justiciars) is the Cabinet made up of the elected heads of government departments in Kouralia. These Government Ministers are collectively termed 'Justiciars,' though only the seniormost Cabinet Posts are fully Justiciars in the sense of the Coronial Officer. The remaining posts are Justicial Chancellors, and their Government Departments are termed 'Chanceries.' The Court of Justiciars is made up of the Crown Captain of Justiciars as head of government, and five Crown Justiciars heading the most prestigious Government Departments. The remaining Cabinet-Level departments are headed by Justicial Chancellors who do not hold the Coronial Office of Justiciar and are therefore ineligible from assuming the full authority of the Crown in extremis, but who are otherwise entitled to attend all sessions of the Court even if not called to it. Legally speaking, they also exercise the devolved power of the Crown Captain of Justiciars rather than exercising Coronial power in their own right. More junior ministers in government are termed 'Chancellors' in a hierarchy as follows:

  • Justiciars are the foremost rank of minister, and head a full cabinet-level Government Department called a 'Justiciary.' Justiciars are appointed by the Crownbearer on the advice of the Crown Captain of Justiciars.
  • Justicial Chancellors are below Justiciars in precedence, and lack certain rights and entitlements derived from that Coronial Office. In all other respects however, they head a full cabinet-level Government Department that is termed a 'Chancery' and are only subordinate to the Crown Captain of Justiciars. Justicial Chancellors are appointed by the Crown Captain of Justiciars without recourse to the Crownbearer - though they may be removed by the Crownbearer.
  • Chancellors are mid-level ministers who take charge of a particular part of their department and undertake specific delegated duties. They are directly subordinate to their responsible Justiciar or Justicial Chancellor. Whilst they share the term 'Chancellor' with that latter post, their role is distinct and they neither head Government Departments nor have a right of audience with the Court of Justiciars unless invited. Chancellors and Assistant Chancellors are appointed by their respective Justiciar or Justicial Chancellor.
  • Assistant Chancellors are the junior-most grade of salaried ministers. Their posts are not inherently linked to that of a Chancellor as their 'Assistant,' and they will have delegated responsibility for a particular area of policy - often one deemed unimportant or niche. The Justicial Statute of 2012 states the Central Coronial Government may only appoint a certain number of salaried ministers, of whom no more than 50 may be Chancellors. This resulted in the creation of this role which does not otherwise have an inherent statutory footing.
  • Justicial Secretaries are not salaried ministers, but are included due to their position traditionally being seen as the first rung on the ladder to the Cabinet. They are Senators selected by Justiciars to act as their assistants or as assistants to their Chancery team, but who do not receive remuneration beyond direct expenses.

Constitutional Status

Justiciars are the foremost Coronial Officer defined by the Statutes-Principal barring the Monarch or Interregent. While they are not Coronial Wardens, they exercise their own inherent Coronial Authority and in a state of war they automatically occupy positions in the order of succession for both Centralised and Absolute Crown Authority as well as holding authority over more junior Coronial Officers. Outside of the strict system of Wartime Coronial Authority, easch Justiciar is considered to be an equal. As their power is inherent, they are technically not subordinate to the Crown Captain of Justiciars who acts as a first-among-equals for them for the purposes of dispute resolution and inter-departmental coordination. However, their removal from office by the Crownbearer is on the executive advice of the Crown Captain of Justiciars so to all intents and purposes they rely on the support of the head of government for their continued employment.

Due to the nature of their role it is a necessity that a Justiciar be able to address the Senate of Kurton and the Noble Assembly. Therefore while it is not a requirement, by convention Justiciars are Senators or ELectors. On the rare occasion that someone not already sitting in either house is to be appointed a Justiciar,

Crown Captain of Justiciars

The Crown Captain of Justiciars is the only figure of the Court of Justiciars who is directly reliant on the support of those outside of it to hold office. In order to be appointed to the post they must hold the support of a majority of Senators - directly or in coalition - or else by convention the Crownbearer cannot appoint them to the post. Even if they did, their legislative agenda would likely be highly unsuccessful which would lead to an ineffective government. The Crown Captain is the head of the Central Coronial Government so while constitutionally they are merely the first among equals for their fellow Justiciars, in practice they set the direction for overarching government policy and strategy.

By convention, whoever holds this office also holds the offices of Chancellor for the Crown and Chancellor for the Adjutant CLerk Corps.

First and Principal Justiciar

The appelation of First and Principal Justiciar is not a distinct position that can be held independent of any other. It is also not a mandatory appointment, and at various times there has not been a First and Principal Justiciar. By convention such an appelation is given by the Crownbearer on executive advice of the Crown Captain to one of the other Justiciars. Where given it denotes holding a position as 'Deputy' Head of Government that does not otherwise exist, and if given to a Justiciar other than that for Foreign Affairs then it increases their position in the order of seniority.


Extant Offices

As of January 2022 there are six Justiciar posts in the Kouralian government, though the Crown Captain of Justiciars is not actually termed a Justiciar in title. All of which are filled by different individuals:

Title
Incumbent
Responsible
Department
Subordinate
Chancellors
Crown Captain of Justiciars,
Chancellor for the Crown,
& Chancellor for the Adjutant Clerks1
Sir Barynel Cæryn
The Captaincy-Temporal
Crown Chancery
Chancellor for Justiciars
Chancellor for the Senate
Chancellor for the Assembly
First Justicial Secretary to the Captain
Second Justicial Secretary to the Captain
Justicial Secretary to the Crown Chancery
First & Principal
Justiciar for Public Safety
XX
Public Safety Justiciary
XX
Justiciar for Foreign Affairs
XX
Foreign Affairs Justiciary
XX
Justiciar for the Treasury
XX
Crown Treasury
XX
Magesterial Justiciar
XX
Magesterial Justiciary
XX
Justiciar for War
XX
Justiciary of War
XX
  • 1 = By convention, the Chancellorships for the Crown and for the Adjutant Clerk Corps are automatically held by the Crown Captain. This reflects their role in being the conduit between the Crownbearer and the Government as well as having responsibility for compliance with the Statutes-Principal, as well as for regulating good conduct by the Adjutant Clerk Corps.

There are also XXX posts which are classed as Justicial-Chancellors, though not all of them share that title.

Style

Great Offices of State

The Great Offices of State are the elected or appointed heads of the most senior Government departments: that responsible for home affairs, foreign affairs, the treasury (and by extension, all Government budgeting), and the department which supports the heads of state and government. Historically these were the first departments to have 'Justiciars', and indeed the Captain of Justiciars is the only statutorily provided-for Justiciar. The others are deputies appointed as required by the Captain who have subsequently been elevated to the status of Justiciar.


Department


Head of Department


Officials


Description

Justiciary of the Crown
File:Kouralia Sir Barynel.jpg
Captain of Justiciars,
Sir Barynel Cæryn
Speaker of the Senate (Vys-Justiciar)
Speaker of the Assembly (Vys-Justiciar)
Principal Lieutenant of Justiciars (Vys-Justiciar)
Assistant Justiciar for the Court
Assistant Justiciar for the Crown
The Justiciary of the Crown is the Office of the Captain of Justiciars - the Kouralian head of government. It provides all the necessary administrative support for the Head of Government, as well as being responsible for providing government services to the Crown and for administration of Cabinet affairs. The Justiciary of the Crown is kept within the Royal Executive Chambers close to the Underpalace of Justice.
Justiciary of the Treasury
File:Kouralia Paravanya Franclynn.png
Justiciar for the Treasury,
Paravanya Franclynn
Vys-Justiciar for Finance
Vys-Justiciar for Commerce
Vys-Justiciar for Economics
The Justiciary of the Treasury is responsible for economic governing and wellbeing of the nation, along with setting the budget of the country. While nominally the Treasury Guard answer to this department, they in fact report to the Justiciary of Public Safety. Of the three traditional sub-departments of the Treasury, that of Finance is responsible for the treasury itself, that of Economics is responsible for 'city' trading, and that of Commerce is responsible for trade and taxation thereof.
Legatine Justiciary
File:Kouralia Sir Osƿynn.jpg
Justiciar Legatine,
Sir Osƿynn Byraþenræ
(Also 'Justiciar for Overseas/Foreign Affairs')
Vys-Justiciar for Pony Lands
Vys-Justiciar for Mystria
Vys-Justiciar for Inter-Planetary Affairs
Vys-Justiciar for the Border
Assistant-Justiciar for Treaties
The Legatine Justiciary, also known as the 'Foreign Office' or 'Office of Overseas Affairs', is responsible for diplomatic relations with all foreign nations and for providing access to Kouralian Government services to citizens abroad. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining Kouralian embassies (termed Legations) and Consulates abroad and for foreign embassies within the Royal Union. The Legatine Justiciary also issues passports to citizens, has direct oversight of the Border Inspectorate, Royal Coastguard, Royal Intelligence Service and Signals Intelligence Service, and has responsibility for citizenship applications and visas.
Justiciary for Public Safety
File:Kouralia Tsachyra.jpg
Justiciar for Public Safety,
Tsachyra Ceþu
Vys-Justiciar of the Watch
Vys-Justiciar for Intelligence
Assistant-Justiciar for Safeguarding
Assistant-Justiciar for Digital Security
The Justiciary of Public Safety is responsible for National Security and Public Safety within Kouralia, and thus is one of the most important and active Justiciaries as its executive agencies have the majority of law enforcement responsibilities. Among its responsibilities are national oversight of Territorial Watches, direct oversight of the Criminal Intelligence Service, and direct oversight of the Treasury Guard.

Superior Offices of State

The Superior Offices of state were principally Crown Servants rather than Princely Justiciars, but elevated to a higher level than the Junior Offices of State. These included Legates and Sheriffs in their number.


Department


Head of Department


Officials


Description

Justiciary for Justice
File:Kouralia Kyntyr Stasyas.png
Justiciar for Justice,
Kyntyr Stasyas
Vys-Justiciar for the Courts
Vys-Justiciar for Prisons
Vys-Justiciar for Community Justice
The Justiciary of Justice is responsible for overseeing the executive's necessary relations with and involvement with the Judiciary. This means it provides Crown Prosecutors and has indirect oversight of the Provincial Prison Services. It is also responsible for reviewing sentencing guidelines and usage of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy.
Justiciary for War
File:Kouralia Tamæra Carfagna.jpg
Justiciar for War,
Tamæra Carfagna
Vys-Justiciar for the Host
Vys-Justiciar for the Admiralty
Vys-Justiciar for the Marischalcy
Assistant Justiciar for Procurement
Assistant Justiciar for Veterancy
Assistant Justiciar for the Militia
The Justiciary for War is responsible for managing the Armed Forces and for ensuring that the actions of the military are always in line with the policy direction of the government. It thus necessarily integrates with the military staffs, and many personnel working in it are from the armed forces.
Justiciary for Culture
File:Kouralia Kessya Mirellys.jpg
Justiciar for Culture,
Kessya Mirellys
Vys-Justiciar for Sport
Vys-Justiciar for Media
Vys-Justiciar for Arts
Vys-Justiciar for Heritage
Vys-Justiciar for Tourism
The Justiciary for Culture is responsible for leading national heritage programmes, promoting and funding the arts, promoting Kouralia abroad as a tourist destination, association with national and international sporting organisations, and the Kouralian state broadcaster.

Puisne Offices of State

The Pusine Offices of State are Justiciars whose government departments were not traditionally within the remit of politicians, or which didn't exist when the Justiciaries were first divided according to their precedence. Originally the predecessors of these positions tended to be professionals such as the court Thaumist or the chief engineer of the Legion stationed closest to the provincial capital.


Department


Head of Department


Officials


Description

Justiciary for National Innovation
File:Kouralia Ean Reyhm.png
Justiciar for National Innovation,
Sir Ean Rehym
Vys-Justiciar for Public Science
Vys-Justiciar for Private Science
Vys-Justiciar for Scientific Synthesis
Vys-Justiciar for Learning
Assistant Justiciar for Principal Learning
Assistant Justiciar for Higher Learning
The Justiciary for National Innovation is responsible for education and promotion of the sciences at a national level within the Royal Union. Education is predominantly the domain of the Provincial Governates, so the Department of Principal and Higher Learning in the Justiciary for National Innovation are mainly responsible for reviewing Provincial decisions where they are contested, inspecting education authorities to determine if they are functioning satisfactorily, and for approving degree courses at universities. The Justiciary is also responsible for promoting and funding scientific endeavours by private entities, and for scientific developments by government research labs.
Justiciary for Thaumistry
File:Kouralia Galanyr Eleni.jpg
Justiciar for Thaumistry,
Dr Galanyr Eleni
Vys-Justiciar for Thaumical Security
Vys-Justiciar for International Magical Development
Vys-Justiciar for Magical Regulation
Vys-Justiciar for Thaumic Synthesis
The Justiciary for Thaumistry is specifically responsible for Government policy in relation to Thaumistry, divine magicks, and foreign magical arts. The Kouralian approach to magic (Thaumistry) is distinctly scientific in nature, and the Department of Thaumo-Scientific Synergy - funded jointly by both Justiciaries - is an illustration of this point. The Justiciary for Thaumistry usually works in conjunction with Public Safety, War, National Innovation, Health and others to ensure that the unique opportunities offered by the Thaumical Arts are best utilised.
Justiciary for Health
File:Kouralia Miesco Conda.png
Justiciar for Health,
Miesco Conda
Vys-Justiciar for Primary Care
Vys-Justiciar for Hospitals
Vys-Justiciar for Emergency Care
Vys-Justiciar for Medicinal Regulation
The Justiciary for Health is principally responsible for overseeing the Provincial Branches of the National Health Service, and for ensuring medicines and foodstuffs are of the necessary quality for retail/consumption in Kouralia. The Justiciary is also responsible for promotion of public health programmes.
Justiciary for Agriculture and Fisheries
File:Kouralia Kyntyra Eunomya.jpg
Justiciar for Agriculture and Fisheries,
Kyntyra Eunomya
Vys-Justiciar for Agriculture
Vys-Justiciar for Fisheries
Assistant Justiciar for Livestock
The JUsticiary for Agriculture and Fisheries is responsible for the administration of agricultural and fishing-based industries in Kouralia.
Justiciary for Enterprise
File:Kouralia Justyne Astorandwyr.jpg
Justiciar for Enterprise,
Justyne Astorandwyr
Vys-Justiciar for Mines and Quarries
Vys-Justiciar for Manufacturing
Vys-Justiciar for Trade
Vys-Justiciar for Digital Economy
The Justiciary for Enterprise is responsible for managing the Government policy in relation to non-agricultural industries such as mining and manufacturing sector, and for international trade.
Justiciary for the Environment
File:Kouralia Cheelæ Ada.jpg
Justiciar for Environment,
Cheelæ Ada
Vys-Justiciar for Natural Beauty
Vys-Justiciar for Renewable Sources
Assistant-Justiciar for Conservation
The Justiciary for the Environment is responsible for preservation of the natural environment in Kouralia, such as through balance with commercial interests and national parks.
Justiciary for Infrastructure and Communications
File:Kouralia Evaryst Galanyr.jpg
Justiciar for Infrastructure,
Evaryst Galanyr
Vys-Justiciar for National Works
Vys-Justiciar for Energy
Vys-Justiciar for Telecommunications
Vys-Justiciar for Transport
Assistant Justiciar for Nuclear Energy
Assistant Justiciar for the Post
Assistant Justiciar for the Yronway
Assistant Justiciar for Roads
Assistant Justiciar for Ports
Assistant Justiciar for Aviation
The Justiciary for Infrastructure and Communications is one of the larger and more active Justiciaries, but one of the least well known or prestigious ones. It is responsible for the administration of Kouralia's national infrastructure (road, rail, airport, and seaport networks, and major works such as dams), transport networks such as the flag carrier airline and national rail supplier, national telecommunications network, national postal service, and the national grid.