Supreme Court of Kodeshia

The Supreme Court of Kodeshia (: 山河间最高法院; Shānhé Jiān Zuìgāo Fǎyuàn) is the highest judicial body in the Empire of Kodeshia. It consists of nine justices who are appointed by the Emperor on the recommendation of the Grand Chancellor and confirmed by the National Representative Assembly. The Supreme Court has the power to interpret the constitution, review laws and regulations, and hear appeals from lower courts.

The Supreme Court is located nearby the District Court building in Songhari, the capital city of Kodeshia. The court holds sessions from October to June each year, and issues its rulings on Mondays and Thursdays. The court also has a summer recess from July to September, during which it may issue emergency orders or grant petitions for review.

The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is Han Feng, who was appointed by Emperor Mengqi in 2018. The other eight associate justices are:
 * Wang Xuefeng, appointed in 2015
 * Chen Yuxin, appointed in 2016
 * Liu Xiaohong, appointed in 2017
 * Zhang Wei, appointed in 2018
 * Yang Liang, appointed in 2019
 * Zhou Qiang, appointed in 2020
 * Li Ming, appointed in 2021
 * Zhao Jing, appointed in 2022

The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over cases involving constitutional issues, disputes between provinces or between the central government and provinces, cases involving foreign affairs or national security, cases involving important social and economic matters, cases involving human rights or civil liberties, and cases that have significant public interest or legal implications. The court may also hear appeals from lower courts on any matter of law or fact.

The Supreme Court follows the principle of stare decisis, which means that it respects its own precedents and those of lower courts unless there is a compelling reason to overrule them. The court also follows the principle of collegiality, which means that it strives to reach unanimous or near-unanimous decisions through deliberation and consultation. The court issues its rulings in written opinions that explain the legal reasoning and factual basis for its judgments.

Some of the landmark cases decided by the Supreme Court include:


 * Shānhé Jiān v. Qarai (2014), which upheld the legality of Kodeshia's intervention on the Qarai border against human trafficking as recognized legitimate protection of its people and right to defend its borders.


 * Li v. National Security Bureau (2016), which struck down a law that authorized warrantless surveillance of suspected terrorists and required telecommunications companies to cooperate with the government.


 * Wang v. Ministry of Education (2017), which ruled that students have the right to receive education in their native languages and that schools must provide adequate resources and facilities for minority language education.


 * Liu v. Grand Chancellor (2020), which invalidated a decree that dissolved the National Representative Assembly and called for new elections amid a political crisis.


 * Zhang v. Ministry of Health (2021), which legalized euthanasia for terminally ill patients who request it and meet certain criteria.


 * Yang v. Ministry of Justice (2022), which abolished the death penalty for all crimes except treason and genocide.

The Supreme Court also plays a central role in controlling the interpretation of Xuanist values in Kodeshi law. Xuanism is a native religion that worships nature spirits and ancestors, and forms part of Kodeshia’s national identity. The Imperial Constitution states that Xuanism is “the source of all morality” and “the foundation of social harmony”. As such, the Imperial Council has three additional mandates:
 * a) Veto power over legislation passed by the National Representative Assembly if it violates Xuanist principles or is incompatible with this Constitution
 * b) Supervision of elections to ensure fairness and transparency
 * c) Approving or disqualifying candidates seeking to run in local, parliamentary or grand chancellery elections based on their moral character and adherence to Xuanist values

These mandates give the Supreme Court significant influence over Kodeshia’s political system and society. However, they are also subject to oversight by the Emperor who can appoint or dismiss any jurist at his discretion; veto any decision made by them; or approve any candidate without their consent.

History
The Supreme Court of Kodeshia traces its origins to the ancient judicial system of the Zu dynasty, which was the first unified state in Kodeshia. The Zu dynasty established a centralized bureaucracy that administered laws and justice throughout the realm. The emperor appointed judges who presided over courts at various levels, from local magistrates to provincial governors to imperial ministers. The highest court was the Grand Court of Judicial Review (大審院; Dàshěnyuàn), which was composed of senior officials who advised the emperor on legal matters and reviewed cases of national importance.

The Grand Court of Judicial Review continued to function under subsequent dynasties, with some modifications and reforms. During the Zhou Dynasty (1237–1531), the court was divided into three chambers: the Chamber of Civil Affairs (民政院; Mínzhèngyuàn), which handled civil and administrative cases; the Chamber of Criminal Affairs (刑事院; Xíngshìyuàn), which handled criminal and military cases; and the Chamber of Rites (禮儀院; Lǐyíyuàn), which handled ceremonial and diplomatic cases. The court also had a chief justice (大法官; Dàfǎguān) who oversaw the operations of the court and reported directly to the emperor.

The Liang Dynasty (1681–1927) inherited the judicial system largely unchanged since the Zhou Dynasty and later Eastern Zhou while the successive Ruo, Cao and Zhao Dynasties had for the most part kept the system going but made some changes to adapt to the changing times. The Liang Dynasty undertook modest reforms until Empress Tianchang came to power in 1839 and oversaw several important reforms. The court was renamed as the Grand Council of Judicial Affairs (大理院; Dàlǐyuàn), and its jurisdiction was expanded to include cases involving foreigners and ethnic minorities. The court also had a vice chief justice (副大法官; Fùdàfǎguān) who assisted the chief justice and acted as his deputy. The court also established a system of precedents and commentaries that guided its decisions and interpretations.

The Grand Campaigns (1919-1925) led to widespread discontent and condemnation of the monarchies handling of the situation. In response to the public discontent and revolts a series of reformist mass movements forced the Emperor to sign the first Kodeshi Constitution, creating a constitutional monarchy ending thousands of years of absolute monarchy and effectively abolishing the imperial judicial system and replaced it with a modern one based on foreign models. The constitution that established a separation of powers among three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The constitution also created a Supreme Court (最高法院; Zuìgāo Fǎyuàn) as the highest judicial authority in the country. The Supreme Court consisted of nine justices who were appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly. The Supreme Court had the power to review the constitutionality of laws and regulations, as well as to hear appeals from lower courts.

The court had to deal with the civil war (1927-1932) which led to the rise of the Kodeshi State (1932-1964) under dictator Guo Guotai. The role of the court was largely overshadowed during this period following and would be until the end of the Great Kesh War.

The Xuanyi Restoration (1964–present) restored the monarchy to its primacy and revised the constitution to reflect a semi-constitutional system. The constitution retained the Supreme Court as an independent branch of government, but changed its composition and appointment process. The Supreme Court now consists of nine justices who are appointed by the emperor on the recommendation of the Grand Chancellor and confirmed by the National Representative Assembly. The Supreme Court has retained its power to interpret the constitution, review laws and regulations, and hear appeals from lower courts.

Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over cases involving constitutional issues, disputes between provinces or between the central government and provinces, cases involving foreign affairs or national security, cases involving important social and economic matters, cases involving human rights or civil liberties, and cases that have significant public interest or legal implications. The court may also hear appeals from lower courts on any matter of law or fact.

The Supreme Court may exercise its jurisdiction in two ways: original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court has the authority to hear a case for the first time, without any prior proceedings in lower courts. Appellate jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court has the authority to review a case that has been decided by a lower court, and to affirm, reverse, or modify the lower court's decision.

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving disputes between provinces or between the central government and provinces, cases involving foreign ambassadors or consuls, and cases in which the emperor is a party. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over cases involving constitutional issues, cases involving foreign affairs or national security, cases involving important social and economic matters, cases involving human rights or civil liberties, and cases that have significant public interest or legal implications. The Supreme Court may also hear appeals from lower courts on any matter of law or fact, if it grants a petition for review.

The Supreme Court may grant or deny a petition for review at its discretion. The court usually grants a petition for review if the case involves a question of law that has not been settled by the court or that is in conflict with the decisions of lower courts, if the case involves a question of fact that is of great importance or that is in conflict with the evidence presented in lower courts, or if the case involves an issue of public policy that requires the court's guidance or intervention.

Powers and responsibilities
The Supreme Court has the power to interpret the constitution, review laws and regulations, and hear appeals from lower courts. The court also has the power to issue writs, orders, and injunctions to enforce its decisions or to protect the rights of the parties involved in a case. The court also has the power to prescribe rules and procedures for its own operation and for the lower courts.

The Supreme Court has the responsibility to uphold the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of the people, and maintain the balance of powers among the branches of government. The court also has the responsibility to ensure the uniformity and consistency of the law throughout the country, and to promote the development and improvement of the legal system. The court also has the responsibility to educate the public about the law and the role of the judiciary in a democratic society.

Functions and procedure
The Supreme Court performs two main functions: adjudication and supervision. Adjudication means that the court decides cases that are brought before it, either by original or appellate jurisdiction. Supervision means that the court oversees the administration and operation of the lower courts, and ensures their compliance with the law and the constitution.

The Supreme Court follows a procedure that consists of several stages: filing, screening, briefing, oral argument, deliberation, decision, and publication. Filing means that a party who wishes to initiate or appeal a case submits a petition or an application to the court, along with the relevant documents and evidence. Screening means that the court reviews the petition or application and decides whether to grant or deny it. Briefing means that the parties submit written arguments and counterarguments to the court, along with any additional documents and evidence. Oral argument means that the parties present their arguments and answer questions from the justices in a public session. Deliberation means that the justices discuss and analyse the case in a private conference. Decision means that the justices vote on the outcome of the case and assign one of them to write the majority opinion. Publication means that the court issues its ruling in a written opinion that explains the legal reasoning and factual basis for its judgment.

Composition
The Supreme Court consists of nine justices: one chief justice and eight associate justices. The justices are appointed by the emperor on the recommendation of the Grand Chancellor and confirmed by the National Representative Assembly. The justices serve for life or until they resign, retire, or are removed by impeachment.

The chief justice is the head of the Supreme Court and the judicial branch of government. The chief justice presides over the sessions and conferences of the court, assigns the writing of opinions, and represents the court in official matters. The chief justice also has administrative duties, such as appointing judges to lower courts, supervising the court staff, and managing the court budget.

The associate justices are the members of the Supreme Court who assist the chief justice in deciding cases and performing other functions. The associate justices have equal votes and voices in the court, and may write concurring or dissenting opinions to express their views. The associate justices also have extrajudicial duties, such as serving on various committees, boards, and commissions.

Facility
The Supreme Court building and facility have undergone several changes throughout the history of Kodeshia. The court was originally located in the Imperial Palace Complex in Songhari, the capital city of Kodeshia. The palace complex was a grand and elegant structure that reflected the glory and prestige of the imperial dynasty.

However, the court was relocated to the District Court building during the 1927-1932 civil war, when the Guoist regime that took over moved the court away from the palace complex. The District Court building was a modest and functional structure that reflected the practical and pragmatic approach of the Guoist regime. But the building was largely destroyed in the war and had to be rebuilt. The court had to operate in makeshift facilities that were inadequate and insecure, ultimately relocating to its original location in the Imperial Palace Complex until a new building was completed.

In 1968, the reconstruction was completed the court was rebuilt near the District Court building. The new court was housed in a new building that was designed to reflect the post-war era was a blend of traditional and modern elements that symbolized the dignity and majesty of the judicial branch and the balance and harmony of the semi-constitutional system.

Justices
The current chief justice of the Supreme Court is Han Feng, who was appointed by Emperor Mengqi in 2018. The other eight associate justices are: