-Felix Frankfurter
Sykios Provincial Court,
Jedoria
"All rise."
Over a hundred individuals rose from their seats, most from the audience behind the desks of the plaintiff and defendant. The entire room fell silent as a single person wearing dark grey robes walked in from a door on the left half of the back wall of the courtroom.
"The Court of the Sykios Provincial Court is now in session, the Honorable Judge Moldovanu presiding."
Claudia Moldovanu was in her 53rd year on this earth, a short and stout women with tinges of grey in her midnight black hair showing. The round faced women seemed to have a minor scowl on her face, but otherwise portrayed no emotion as she walked up the steps to the judge's bench. The rest of the room remained eerily quiet, the jury, defense, prosecution, all keeping their eyes on the middle aged women as she sat down in her seat, adjusting her robes slightly to accommodate the change in posture. Raising her head to examine the courtroom in front of her, she spoke in a commanding and firm voice. "Everyone but the jury may be seated."
The spectators, prosecution and the defense took their seats in silence safe for the rustling of fabric and the occasional scoot of chair legs. The twelve members of the jury remained standing, waiting for their next part in the courtroom procedure. Turning her head slightly down and to her right, Moldavanu addressed the bailiff. "Mr. Dobrogeanu, please swear in the jury." The bailiff nodded to the affirmative and made his way over to the jury box, standing in front of the twelve determiners of law and spoke to them all as a group in a gravely voice. "Please raise your right hand." Twelve open palms rose. "Do you solemnly swear that you will truthfully listen to this case, and upon the completion of it render a true verdict and fair sentence to this defendant?"
More or less in unison, the members of the jury, who varied in age, sex, height, and clothing, unified solely for the purpose of this legal procedure, confirmed. "I do."
Nodding, Dobrogeanu said "You may be seated."
While the jury took their seats, the bailiff returned to his post, after which the judge inquired to him "Mr. Dobrogeanu, what is today's case."
Addressing his superior, the bailiff replied respectfully "Your Honor, today's case is Citizens for the Preservation of Civil Liberties against the Internal Security Sykios Command, for alleged violations of the constitutional rights of assembly for multiple citizens."
Moldavanu nodded. Turning her gaze towards the prosecution, she asked "Is the prosecution ready?" The attorneys and representatives of the CPCL rose as one and nodded. Yes, your honor." The lead attorney said, after which all sat back down in their seats.
Sweeping her eyes to her right, she asked "Is the defense ready?" The same event was repeated by the other side of the case. "Yes, your honor."
"Then by the power invested in my, and this court, this case is now in session." She picked up the gavel and banged it once on the small block of wood that was the hammer's normal target. The noise reverberated throughout the entire room, and after placing the gavel back in it's resting spot, Moldavanu spoke again. "You may give your opening statements."
The prosecution, lead by Dorin Pușcariu, exchanged glances and nods, before Pușcariu rose from his seat and walked out a bit so he stood roughly center between the judge's bench, and the defense and prosecution. "Your Honor," He said, nodding towards Moldavanu, then turning to the jury, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am here quite simply to defend the constitutional rights that we as citizens of our Confederation hold dear. A great many events have transpired in recent weeks, not just abroad but also within our homeland. Recent political and military developments in particular took many of us by surprise. We were not informed by the government we elected into office of this development, and were naturally surprised by the rather sudden reversal of what has been our countries southern defense arrangement for nearly forty years now. In some cases this caused great concern among our people, who feared for the well-being and safety of not only their families, but their country."
"In keeping with the rights bestowed upon us as citizens of the Confederation, a great many people saw fit to organize and protest what they saw as an unjust and unwarranted action undertaken by our government, without any warning or notice. I must stress I am not here to argue whether or not the withdrawal of our nation's military forces from our southern border is a sound policy decision. I am here before you because following the organization and lawful assembly of many concerned citizens, personnel under the order and control of the Department of Internal Security, our nation's law enforcement, operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on numerous occasions not just here in Sykios, but across Jedoria, reacted to these lawful protests with violence and aggression. Irrefutable video and photographic evidence shows that members of Internal Security, specifically in this case officers from the Sykios Metropolitan District Command, inflicted bodily harm and acted aggressively against protestors, including usage of batons, tear gas grenade, pepper spray, intimidation, and arresting hundreds under charges of 'disturbing the peace'. Perhaps most shockingly were statements made by Internal Security leadership which labeled the protests as 'unlicensed and unauthorized'. Statements that indicated that, despite having the constitutional right to, citizens of this country are not allowed to gather and assemble to express their political views and opinions."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you Honor, by the time this trial is concluded I am confident you will be fully assured of the veracity of my statements, and will handle this clear case of complete disregard for the constitutional rights as it rightfully should be dealt with. This concludes the prosecutions opening statement." Finished, Pușcariu returned to his seat, adjusting his tie. Moldavanu watched the lawyer sit down before nodding towards the defense. Luminitia Vianu, the legal attorney for the Department of Internal Security Sykios Province Command, rose from her seat. Taking the same spot as Pușcariu had occupied, she spoke in a calm and confident manner.
"Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I stand before you in defense of the men and women who's guiding principles are to 'serve and protect'. The Department of Internal Security has, for 60 years now, defended the rights of the Jedorian people, served their best interests, and continually promoted the welfare, well being, and safety of our fellow citizens not just in Sykios, but across the Confederation. They have done this, despite the numerous potential dangers associated with working in law enforcement, despite a rapidly changing world that requires them to adjust to emerging new threats, and despite the specter of terrorism that haunts our region. The men and women in the Department have done nothing but promote the security of our people, and that is why today I stand ready to defend them against accusations of corruption and malevolence."
"The opposition has claimed that the officers of the Sykios Metropolitan District Command have on several occasions violated the constitutional rights to free assembly. They claim that Internal Security acted without due process and attacked citizens who were merely exercising their rights to protest. They claim that Internal Security acted without regards to the laws they themselves are entrusted with upholding. While I respect their opinions, I do not agree. As you are sure to see by the time of this trial's conclusion, the fine officers of Internal Security only reacted to events that threatened to spill over into acts of violence and anarchy. While it is claimed peaceful protests were all that took place, evidence compiled by video cameras and photographs will clearly show that not only were these protests malevolent and provocative in nature, but members of Internal Security reacted lawfully to events as they unfolded, and in doing so upheld the high standards of Jedorian law enforcement that we are all accustomed to. This concludes the defense's opening statements."
Vianu returned to her seat, smoothing out her skirt while Moldavanu nodded. She turned to Pușcariu and said "Prosecution, you may call your first witness."
Pușcariu nodded and rose from his seat, inhaling softly. It was going to be a long day.