I'm not aware of any secret prosecutions in our history. I am quite sure such a thing would be illegal! We are discussing this on an announcement thread, where I gave very prompt notice about the filing of charges with the Clerk.

If anyone is aware of secret prosecutions at any point, they should let my office know immediately. Any secrecy of office or privacy will be respected for whistleblowers.

I have no further updates to give about the current status of the investigation at this time. I mean, it's been like a day. In the interests of decisive action, however, I think one thing I can do is say is that I will be filing again with the deputy Clerk, who we know is available, so that we can expedite a little bit.

I should probably also reassure everyone that no one is going to be prosecuted for some sort of innocent mistake, such as clicking on the ballot and seeing the receipt or something like that. We have absolutely no interest in going after innocent people who we're just trying to read their mail! The investigation is wholly and completely focused on the possibility of purposeful wrongdoing, not understandable mistakes. Numerous people have already contacted us, and we appreciate everyone's help.

This is a weird election so far. We've had to invalidate half a dozen ballots. Considering our whole system is based on trust more than you would think, and our numbers are small enough that even 10 ballots represents a tenth of the electorate, this whole thing is something that needs to be taken seriously.

I will be happy to release a redacted version of the charging instrument, absent only such details as necessary.

The very important point of public policy here is that the Government should not issue charging documents unless they really do have the evidence they think they need to convict. Making charging documents public (by default, let's say) is a good way to disincentivize hasty prosecutions.

I note that the A-Xh has not actually answered my question as to whether the charging document was made out to a particular citizen or whether it was a "John Doe"* with the name to be filled in later. Nor has it been made plain whether the criminal prosecution in this case is still being pursued,

Therefore, please take this following as a formal request for information held by the Ministry of Justice to be made public, under El Lexhatx D.7.: please issue the charging document in this case.

Also: please publish any other charging documents which "the most transparent government in Talossan history" has made against Talossan citizens and kept secret. I assume there are none, but good to get it on the record that this is the first secret prosecution that has been attempted.

* The Ladintsch Naziunal suggests Ian/Ivană Inschinescu as the equivalent in the national language.

Trials might be sealed, but that's simply never happened yet.  I can very very easily imagine occasions when we might wish to do that.  Probably not in this case, though!

I think you misunderstood my point about collecting affidavits and sworn testimony -- I was making a separate point about something else we might want to change.

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on Yesterday at 04:18:58 PMThere are certainly some changes that could be made to our system of law, but there's already a requirement that an accused individual be informed within seven days of a charging instrument being accepted.  I think it would be a bad idea to require public disclosure, since it's very possible some proceedings might be sealed for the sake of victims.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but arent trials all public on Witt? What difference would making indictments public make then? If a case does end up being sealed, just seal the indictment with it.

QuoteIt would be wiser to put in a decision point in that regard, instead.  The person who really needs to know is the accused, and it's not otherwise always in the public interest to require publication of unproven charges and information about criminal activity.  Prompt the judge to decide, with a direction to default to public proceedings.

For one, all charges start off as unproven before they come before a judge, right? Isn't that how trials work? For two, regardless of one's stance on making indictments public in general, since we are talking about potential election interference, I'd say it is absolutely in the public interest in this case.

QuoteI'd suggest another concern is that it doesn't seem possible to collect affidavits or sworn testimony without first beginning cort proceedings, which is why charges were filed.

How would public indictments stop one from collecting affidavits and sworn testimony?

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN-GC on Yesterday at 03:54:16 PMSo, wait. Am I to understand that the Ministry of Justice had a charging document all drawn up already against a Talossan citizen, and now that's not going ahead?

Or was the charging document a "John Doe" type of thing, name to be filled in later?

In any case, let this serve as notice that, to the next Cosa, I will present an amendment to El Lexhatx G.6.1, which will make it clear that when the Ministry of Justice lodges a charging document, it will be open to public view. If the Government have enough evidence to take someone to court, it only serves natural justice that they have the confidence to name a name, even if some of the evidence has to stay secret until trial.

There are certainly some changes that could be made to our system of law, but there's already a requirement that an accused individual be informed within seven days of a charging instrument being accepted.  I think it would be a bad idea to require public disclosure, since it's very possible some proceedings might be sealed for the sake of victims.  It would be wiser to put in a decision point in that regard, instead.  The person who really needs to know is the accused, and it's not otherwise always in the public interest to require publication of unproven charges and information about criminal activity.  Prompt the judge to decide, with a direction to default to public proceedings.

I'd suggest another concern is that it doesn't seem possible to collect affidavits or sworn testimony without first beginning cort proceedings, which is why charges were filed.

So, wait. Am I to understand that the Ministry of Justice had a charging document all drawn up already against a Talossan citizen, and now that's not going ahead?

Or was the charging document a "John Doe" type of thing, name to be filled in later?

In any case, let this serve as notice that, to the next Cosa, I will present an amendment to El Lexhatx G.6.1, which will make it clear that when the Ministry of Justice lodges a charging document, it will be open to public view. If the Government have enough evidence to take someone to court, it only serves natural justice that they have the confidence to name a name, even if some of the evidence has to stay secret until trial.

Group 4

6 - Soundgarden
4 - Bon Jovi
3 - Led Zeppelin
2 - The Smiths
1 - B-52s

Group 5

6 - Johnny Cash Ring of Fire
4 - New Order
3 - Johnny Cash Hurt
2 - House of Pain
1 - Talking Heads

-Txec R

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on Yesterday at 09:29:35 AM

Quote from: Tric'hard Lenxheir on Yesterday at 09:26:21 AMDidn't really want to know who voted just a running total like you see on tv in the United States

You don't have that in the US either, what you see during Election Night are the numbers coming in as they count all the ballots after the polls are closed.

Yeah, especially when election nights were more of an event in the years before COVID, we theorised releasing results province by province to simulate precinct results coming in. The consensus was that there's so few voters in certain provinces, especially swing voters, that you would be able to pretty much figure out what everyone voted.

Quote from: Marcel Eðo Pairescu Tafial, UrGP on Yesterday at 09:29:35 AM

Quote from: Tric'hard Lenxheir on Yesterday at 09:26:21 AMDidn't really want to know who voted just a running total like you see on tv in the United States

You don't have that in the US either, what you see during Election Night are the numbers coming in as they count all the ballots after the polls are closed.

Okay true, I guess the difference is in how long the election runs in Talossa LOL

Quote from: Tric'hard Lenxheir on Yesterday at 09:26:21 AMDidn't really want to know who voted just a running total like you see on tv in the United States

You don't have that in the US either, what you see during Election Night are the numbers coming in as they count all the ballots after the polls are closed.