Federal Consistory

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Federal Consistory
Rektārkax Sōnedrion
LocationPalace of Law
Judiciary Square, C-District
Kartika
Appeals fromFederal Sector Courts
High Court of Admiralty
State high courts
Judge term lengthLife
Number of positions7
LanguageHigh Coscivian
Kiravic Coscivian

The Federal Consistory (Kiravic: Rektārkax Sōnedrion) is the supreme court and constitutional court of the Kiravian Federacy.

Created as the Confederal Consistory under the Confederative Covenant, Kiravia's first written constitution, the Consistory and the Court of the Sea were the first true courts of national significance in Kiravian history. The Court's authority has been reäffirmed under all subsequent Kiravian constitutions, though its role and operations have changed over time in tandem with the growth of the federal judiciary and rise of the modern legal state.

The Consistory primarily rules on matters of constitutional law and adjudicates "controversies" (mixalotra) among the other federal constitutional bodies - Stanora, Executive College, and Federal Council - among the federal subjects, and between a federal subject and the federal government. The Court has original and obligatory jurisdiction in cases among constitutional bodies and federal subjects. In keeping with the centrality of dispute resolution in the Coscivian judicial tradition, the Consistory's settlement of such controversies often involves elements of arbitration in addition to answering questions of law. The Consistory also has appellate jurisdiction in cases originating from lower federal courts (obligatory if involving federal agencies or constitutional questions, discretionary otherwise), and in cases originating from provincial High Courts if they address federal constitutional questions (discretionary). At the request of the Governments of Saint Kennera and Pribraltar or the Chief of Scapa, the Consistory may also hear appeals from the high courts of these associated states. The Consistory has authority to pass judicial review, with the power to invalidate (in whole or in part) primary legislation and the actions of constitutional bodies on grounds of unconstitutionality, and to invalidate secondary legislation and the actions of subordinate agencies if they contradict superior legislation in the hierarchy of laws.

Under the Restoration Constitution, the membership of the Consistory is fixed at seven judges. Consistorial judges must be Kiravian citizens aged at least 35 lunar years, and must be "established judges of good repute, having served in such capacity in the courts of a Province or the lower Federal courts for at least five years." Judges are appointed by the Prime Executive of the Kiravian Federacy, subject to confirmation by the Federal Council, and serve life terms. Judges of the Federal Consistory may be impeached by the Federal Council for official misconduct or "public scandal".

Index of Notable Decisions

Case Year Holding
Mac Gréagóir v. Poirier 21199 Reäffirms the constitutionality of exile as a criminal penalty.
Kilkennan v. Ilfenóra 210XY States (that is, state legislatures) are not obligated to elect Federal Councillors. Vacancies arising for whatever reason are not actionable.
Váuadra v. Ausonius 210XX Dual nationals are ineligible to hold the office of Prime Executive.