Department of Justice, The Migrendel Wing

[Peter]

Welcome to the new wing of the Department of Justice, named for perhaps our most insane Chief Justice to date, Migrendel.

The Migrendel Wing will house the Office of the Attorney General.

My initial priorities are clear and are much as outlined in my confirmation hearing. I will work to ensure that all areas where the Department of Justice and the trial system was shown to be lacking in Walterstein are corrected.

My second priority is to investigate the possibility of establishing a Supreme Court Bar in Atlasia. I will be entering discussions with Senators, the Supreme Court and the wider population on this matter in due course.

[Хahar 🤔]

Good luck in your new job.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Good luck in your new job.

[bullmoose88]

Congrats.

Sincerely,

Bullmoose, C.J.

[Joe Republic]

Good luck and congratulations, Peter.

Omnis tuus castra sunt inesse nos.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Good luck

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Congratulations on the confirmation and the new office. I wish you all the best in your "new" venture as Attorney-General of the Republic of Atlasia.

Sincerly,

Rockefeller Republican

[Hash]

Best of luck

[Colin]

Good luck and congrats Peter.

The Migrendel Wing, that takes me back. I can't believe I actually ran against Migrendel once.

[Sam Spade]

Isn't the migrendel wing where the miscreants are put out of their misery permanently?  Good show.

[Peter]

Moderator Role and Status Bill
Section 1: Findings
1. The role of Moderators with respect to the Atlasian legal system is not presently addressed at all in Atlasian Law
2. The recent Walterstein case has raised specific issues surrounding IP checks and warrants.
3. The Senate recognises it should not and cannot restrict the actions of moderators with respect to their role as agents of Dave Leip.
4. Article VI, Section 8 states: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, communications and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Section 2: Immunity
Moderators shall not be answerable in Atlasian Courts for actions consistent with directions and tasks given to them by Dave Leip.

Section 3: Warrants
1. Should the Attorney General wish to ask a moderator to investigate the IP of a particular poster or several posters, then he shall apply to the Supreme Court for a search warrant, stating his reasons for suspecting the poster(s).
2. The Court may decline or issue the search warrant with such conditions as it feels necessary.
3. If a warrant is issued, the Attorney General may approach a moderator or Dave Leip to perform the search. The moderator/Dave Leip are under no obligation to perfrom the check if they feel it is not appropriate.
4. Any information supplied by the moderator/Dave Leip is considered to be privileged information unless they specifically allow it to be released to the public domain.

Section 4: Retroactive Warrants
Should a moderator/Dave Leip in the performance of their other duties come to the realisation that Atlasian Law has been broken and then inform the Attorney General of this fact, then the Attorney General may apply for a retroactive warrant for an IP investigation from the Court.
I am launching a consultation on the above bill with the intention of having it introduced in the Senate. I would appreciate any feedback/suggestions.

[Хahar 🤔]

Good bill. It's certainly needed. I have no objections.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

No objections here.  Good piece of legislation.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

This piece of legislation is needed, thus I have no objections to it what-so-ever.

[CultureKing]

Great bill, if needed I would be more than willing to sponsor it.

[minionofmidas]

I endorse this bill.

[Hash]

I will happily sponsor this bill if Peter wants me to do so.

[Peter]

Having received no comments desiring changes, I am happy that interested parties have had sufficient time to review it. I request a Senator introduce as soon as possible.
There being no Senate noticeboard, I would like to ask the PPT/VP if they would like me to maintain a noticeboard?

I'll maintain the below list for my own reference (apologies to Jas, whose previous format I have blattently plagiarised). Please notify me of corrections by PM.

Active Legislation
Slot 1 (General)
Constitutional Amendment to Allow Gun Control
Sponsor: Friz
Status: Debate open, since 1 April

Slot 2 (General)
Constitutional Amendment to Prohibit Conscription
Sponsor: Friz (Ebowed)
Status: Debate open, since 8 April

Slot 3 (General)
Empty

Slot 4 (General, exc. Constitutional Amendments)
Empty

Slot 5 (General, exc. Constitutional Amendments)
Network Neutrality Bill
Sponsor: Verily (Ebowed)
Status: Debate open, since 7 April

Slot 6 (Forum Affairs/Emergency)
Constitutional Amendment to Elect the Secretary of Forum Affairs
Sponsor:Meekermariner
Status: Debate open, since 7 April

Slot 7 (PPT's Discretion)
School Standards Reform Bill
Sponsor:Verily
Status: Debate Open, since 27 March

Slot 8 (Veto Override)
Sane Automobile Policy Bill
Sponsor: Verily
Status: Vetoed; Motion to override?

Statute Passed
Amendment to the National Energy Act
F-22 Catch 22 Bill

Resolutions Passed
Amendment to OSPR Article IV, Section 1, Clause 8

Constitutional Amendments Passed
Alignment with Territory Policy Bill (awaiting ratification)

Stuff that failed/withdrew
Comprehensive Drug Reform Bill of 2007
Abolition of the Penny Bill

Please notify me of corrections by PM.

[Verily]

Thanks, Peter. I have to apologize deeply for the state of affairs I've allowed things to sink into of late. After fixing up some business, I'm resigning as PPT for personal issues.

[Peter]

Somebody (who isn't likely to leave office very soon), please propose this:

End to Districts Clarification Amendment
1. Article I, Section 4, Clause 5 is repealed
2. Any vacancy in a Class B Senate seats shall be filled in a manner that the Senate shall prescribe by Law.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Somebody (who isn't likely to leave office very soon), please propose this:

End to Districts Clarification Amendment
1. Article I, Section 4, Clause 5 is repealed
2. Any vacancy in a Class B Senate seats shall be filled in a manner that the Senate shall prescribe by Law.

The Secretary of Forum Affairs officially requests that the PPT place said Amendment in the PPT Option slot as soon possible.

[Peter]

Formal Consultation Launch - The Supreme Court Bar
Objectives
To form a body which will give formal status to the "legally minded" in Atlasia.
To create a pool of lawyers who can be called upon by criminal defendants in trials.

Proposals for Implementation
The Bar shall be governed by Statute, and my initial proposal is that the Supreme Court would administer the Bar with such assistance from the DoJ as they need.

The Court would be responsible for deciding upon applications to join the Bar and could appoint Bar members to represent criminal defendants in trials. This would necessitate a complete rewrite of Section 7 of the Consolidated Criminal Justice Act.

There would be some minimal requirements for membership of the bar - some activity, a reputation for vaguely knowing where to find the Constitution on the wiki, etc., and the Court would be empowered to make whatever other regulations it felt were necessary for the regulation of the Bar, including arrangements for expulsion.

Thoughts?

[Хahar 🤔]

It's a very good idea. and Section 7, Clause 2 needs a rewrite anyway.

[minionofmidas]

I hear a thirsty man can get a drink here.

[TomC]

It's a great idea.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Obviously better for defendants to choose their own counsel. If Court appointment is exercised regularly, though, maybe some kind of rotation system that assures one "favorite" isn't always appointed over all others who would like a shot.

I'd also hope that once established with active membership, the bar itself would have some regulatory authority over itself, along with the Court.