November 2013 Judicial Election

Kiwi:I have previously stated concern over the lack of progress on many cases filed with the office of the Attorney General, one of which was filed by myself. I don't know why many of them have not been progressed but I promised that if PunkD was unable to progress them to a satisfactory degree, I would undertake to do so if elected in the following term. So here I am.

My rationale for waiting was that I have now finished exams - it's summer holiday here - so I can progress much faster through the work load than any other candidate could, at least in theory.

It would be my aim, if I am unable to find a competent deputy and with the leave of the Court, to run two trials at once. If I can find the evidence necessary, I will prosecute all those who have (at first glance) broken TNP law.

Leekem: I have been in this region for some time now and have also been fascinated with law. I have studied the role of the Attorney General and I believe I am truly equipped to serve this region as its chief prosecutor. COE mentioned in his resignation that he believed it was time for fresh blood to enter the Speaker office. I believe it is also time for a change in way this judicial system is run.

I have look at many cases and I believe, ironic such does COE, that our major issue in the judicial system is time management. I believe so many extensions have been given and we have been slacking off in this area. We need to tighten up with he system. Like Kiwi Punk D when he was offices made some mistakes regarding prosecutors some cases and I believe mistakes could be fix.

My platform is not just time management but also how proceeding is done and the justices role. I planeed to use all evidence given me to provide a clear and coherent case. The constitution and the bill of rights is what manners most to me and evidently the citizens of TNP. So I thank you and may the better one win.

Leekem: Very good question Iro. Kiwi has been a government official before and has you read in my platform this is not bad but I believe some government officials has become too comfortable, to speak, in the government.

I was reading his campaign but I could read it. Do you know why? Because there wasn't one. You see he asked for questions. I told you who I am as a person, what is my ideals on politics, and why I am the better choice. Lucky for Kiwi it worked and he got votes for being in the government and is well known.

This is what I'm talking about. We can't vote for someone just because you may very well or they have been in the government for some time. We need a change. We need some new ideas in the government.

Kiwi proclaimed he didn't have time to write a platform. If he is elected who does to say he wouldn't have time to review this case or he is too busy. I understand he must other issues but you must commit fully to your position in the judicial system. I have commit fully to this region that's why I go out of my to try persuade you for your vote. I have been months preparing for this role. With your vote we will lead the judiciary system to a brighter future and never go back.

Kiwi: Thanks for taking the time to submit a question Iro. I feel like I need to make a few points to provide some clarification on what Leekem has said before we move on. Not as a rebuttal but simply because many of the statements do not reflect the truth.

Firstly - I'm not a government official (even by our crazy Court's definition). I'm currently serving as a Temporary Hearing Officer at the request of the current Court, but I'm not a member of the government - I stepped down because I felt it necessary to bring in some new ideas.

Secondly - I don't need to put up points on my personality, political leanings or my ideology because they are not relevant for this post. Citizens are welcome to ask (as they are welcome to ask me when I'm not running for an office), it's certainly not a secret. I'm fairly well known in TNP and I've served in some role or another since I came to TNP.

People know me. They don't need to read endless election posts which always say the same thing. For the role of Attorney General, it's enough that I will prosecute whoever I can based on the claims filed.

Thirdly - Leekem talks about a change - I am that change. I have never served in the judicial branch. I do have concerns that Leekem does not comprehend that the AG cannot make sweeping changes to the judiciary. That duty falls on the RA.

Fourthly - as far as time is concerned, I have just finished my law exams. So now (pending exam results) I will have a law degree, this makes me one of the most qualified people in TNP to be AG. This is why many have asked me to undertake this post. I apologise that I was unable to post a more detailed platform but I question Leekem if he believes that he will be able to match the amount of time I will have to put into this office. I did not run last election because then I did not have the time, I do now.

As far as Leekem is concerned, with all due deference to him, my command of the English language, my ability to put complicated arguments before a court (both in TNP and in real life) make me the most qualified candidate for this role.

Leekem: I have spoken to my number of Attorney General. They work pretty much in the same field as the ones in TNP. Attroney Generals of a region, or at least here in the U.S., they deal with the city law suits. So they helped bring cases and prosecute them. They gather the evidence provide a decent for the jury to make a verdict.

But for how are they different, they have a different way of dealing with cases we have here in TNP. We usually enter time for a plea, this and that. They do some of that just not in the same order.

I believe attorney generals are the same in any way they are used. I mean how much can the role of an attorney general really change.

Kiwi:I apologise but I'm not as familiar with the American system than I am with the Attorney-General from where I come from. In New Zealand, the AG is essentially a member of the executive. He (or she) does not prosecute cases but simply oversee's the office that does. He or she also acts as a legal advisor to the government of the day and is a member of parliament him or herself.

In TNP the role is similar but perhaps more along the lines of an actual prosecutor with certain elements of the AG role mixed in. It's definitely much different to what we have in NZ.

Leekem: Well Olvern, like I said in my opening statement I believe in time management and like Kiwi that is up to the RA to decide.

We need to tighten on the extensions for a case and remain strictly to the time plot allotted. Like in TNP V. Gross this sort of thing happened and the justices couldn't find a verdict for this person. If the time period exceeds the amount of time given I will have to reassess the situation.

Hopefully using these methods we can crack down on this judicial system.

Kiwi: Right... well there isn't much the AG can do to prevent what happened in TNP v. Gross. Gross was on an informal medical leave and the Court could have opted to have him tried regardless but they chose not to do so. That said - it probably wasn't helped by the huge number of cases on the docket already.

What can we do? Seek legislative change. The way the current system works is incredibly inefficient.

As for what Leekem is saying... it's untrue that the court "couldn't find a verdict" - the case was just stalled endlessly.

As for the current delays, it is incredibly difficult sometimes for both the AG and counsel to be online to collaborate as is necessary. This is a practical issue that simply cannot be resolved under the current system. I hope to run at least two cases at once to prevent this and collate all evidence in advance to speed up the process.

But opposing counsel can always drag his or her heels so it would be out of my hands, anyway.

Leekem: Oh mcmasterdonia, absolutely. I am all for working with the government. I would love to be able to work with you and help to improve the laws of TNP. In the constitution it does state that I will be your legal advisor to cases. So therefore you will be hearing my ideas on the laws and how to approve them.

So to answer your question is yes. I love working with other people. I am all for it and hope the citizens of TNP give me that chance to help improve our laws in any way needed.

Kiwi: Yeah I definitely think there is a role for the AG to advise and take advice from the government. What's equally important is that the AG retains the impartial nature of his or her office.

As for improving the law... there's no reason the AG (or myself if I am AG) cannot actively advocate for reform. In any RA vote, I will be abstaining, regardless of who puts it forward, but I would love to try and correct errors as they arise with the help of the government and the RA.

Leekem: I believe we share the qualities of being qualified. Believe it or not I am the president of a law firm, even though I may not appeal so. I believe me and Kiwi have similar idea but different ways to express them.

I think I am more of a peoples person therefore I am sort of lead towards people and may discard the laws.

I am very passionate as you can tell from my writing. That's just me. I believe Kiwi has the skills express what she believes in, which I do too. And I wish the best to her in this election.

Kiwi: I have to say, I find it really difficult to believe that Leekem is the president of a law firm. It's a bit concerning that he's happy to discard laws in pursuit of what he believes to be the interests of "people". I disagree that we're equally qualified but I do agree that we share the same positive vision for TNP. We both mean well.

Leekem: I'm glad you've asked that. I am hoping if I do lose Kiwi will give me a spot as deputy Attorney General. This way I able to express my ideas through her and still get the job. It doesn't who is in office as long as they have the welfare of TNP at heart.

So I hoped this will happen if I do lose the election.

Kiwi: Much the same as Leekem - I've got the time and the inclination so I would certainly consider taking up a spot as a deputy.

Leekem: Look citizens of TNP I truly believe I am right for this politics and law. I am currently actively working as a lawyer. I know you have probably made your decision but think of what I said. Not the question but my ideals on politics and tell me if I'm wrong. I said what I said because it is true.

TNP needs a change and it will come sooner or later. I wish luck to Kiwi and we'll see who will be the victor.

Kiwi:
I don't really have anything to add at this point. It would be fantastic to elected to the office and I look forward to the challenge it presents if I am elected. Please make sure you vote!

I have cleaned up the logs in order to enhance readability - full versions, minus quits/joins and IP addresses, are available upon request.

IRC formatting was removed, and multi-line responses were condensed into paragraphs with logical topic breaks. As the register of IRC allows for parentheticals and asides which fit ungrammatically within the forum register, I have taken some liberties in tweaking punctuation in order to avoid jarring the reader.

Errors corrected by the speaker (generally denoted in IRC by an asterisk) and minor capitalization inconsistencies have been seamlessly amended into the statements in question; other errors have been left intact and should be considered sic erat scriptum.

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