Laeralian Constitutional Court

The Laeralian Constitutional Court is the Laeralian supreme judicial body, charged with judicial review in Laeral's civil law system. It has the power to declare legislation unconstitutional, thus striking it from the statute. The court's jurisdiction is focused on the compliance of statues and executive branch actions with the Laeralian Constitution, particularly the irrevocable eternal clauses regarding the protection of human dignity and the equality of all citizens under the law.

Authority and Procedures

The Constitutional Court is separate from the regular judicial appeals process, yet cases may be referred to the Court by the president, by one-third of members of either house of the National Assembly, or by provincial governors or first ministers. At its own discretion, the Court may also take up cases brought by private citizens, although this requires two-thirds of justices to indicate that they wish to issue an opinion on the case.

The rulings of justices of the Constitutional Court are signed, and justices may produce dissenting or concurrent opinions. Cases are first reviewed by four-justice panels. Only if the four justices fail to concur in their decision is the case referred to the full Constitutional Court; roughly 70% of cases are thus ruled upon without necessitating the entire Court. The relatively low bar for a case to be taken up by the Constitutional Court has led to the proliferation of frivolous referrals by opposition lawmakers or provincial executives; most controversial laws are referred to the Court, although many such referrals with little legal basis are rejected summarily by the judicial panels.

Members

The twelve justices of the Constitutional Court are nominated by the president for fixed twelve-year terms. Constitutional Court nominees require approval by a three-fifths majority of the General Assembly or the Assembly of Commons; every two years, the president names one nominee to each house of the National Assembly for approval.