The Circuit Court of Robots (or “Circuit Court”, Chinese: 机器人巡回法庭) is the judicial institution of the Robot Civilization in the Evernight Era, responsible for mediating disputes and upholding justice. It has jurisdiction over the Geocity, the Virtual Universe and the entire snowfield.
History
Temporary Military Court: About a decade before Alice‘s awakening, a large-scale riot swept across the Robot Civilization, resulting in significant loss of life and infrastructure. The Geocity Volunteers, Robot Engineers Association, and Shadow Vigilantes united to quell the unrest. Those responsible for the riot were captured, and the robots established a temporary military court to prosecute their crimes.
Courts of Geocity and Virtual Universe: The temporary military court was dissolved after the aforementioned trials. However, conflicts in Geocity and the Virtual Universe continued to occur following the riots. Calls for a permanent mediation and trial institution led to the establishment of the Court of Geocity and the Court of Virtual Universe. Initially, they followed the military court system, but gradually adjusted their practices to better suit peacetime needs. Each court hold judicial power only over Geocity and the Virtual Universe, respectively.
Restructured into the Circuit Court: Due to the formation of Snowfield Expedition Teams and the increasing crimes by Snow Bandits and Geocity fugitives, the two courts were merged to create the Circuit Court of Robots, which holds judicial power over Geocity, the Virtual Universe, and the entire snowfield.
Authority
Only authority with a legal foundation: The Circuit Court of Robots is the only legally established authority in the Robot Civilization of the Evernight Era. Its judicial power derives from the unanimous consent of all robot citizens, as outlined in the Provisional Constitution of the Robot Civilization.
Other authorities, such as the Robot Engineers Association and Shadow Vigilantes, have overstepped for their governance and law enforcement roles due to historical circumstances, creating a status quo without legal basis. In theory, the Circuit Court can revoke their powers at any time.
Authority from a strong reputation: The Circuit Court of Robots is generally well-regarded in the Robot Civilization, and its authority is widely acknowledged. Even the Snow Bandits occasionally seek the Court’s help in mediating disputes.
Types
The Circuit Court of Robots has two main types of trials: Quick Trials and Supreme Court Trials. Recently, at the request of the Snow Bandits, they have also held occasional Snowfield Trials.
Quick Trials: Quick Trials is a fast-track mediation and trial mechanism conducted in the community where the case arises, involving one judge who also serves as a mediator.
Supreme Court Trials: The Supreme Court consists of nine judges who rotate from a pool of experienced and consistently praised judges. Most cases are heard by three judges (known as a “Three-head Court”). If necessary, the Three-head Court can escalate a case to be heard by all nine judges (called a “Nine-head Court”).
Snowfield Trials: Traditionally, the Snow Bandits resolved disputes through duels and wars. However, to reduce casualties, they now occasionally invite the Circuit Court of Robots to help “resolve disputes in a more civilized way.” Judges and mediators for the Snowfield Trials are elected from within the Snow Bandits, while Circuit Court judges serve as advisors. The basis for judgment has also been adjusted to reflect the actual situation of their society.
Trail Procedures
Public hearing: Most cases will be tried first in Quick Trials, held in the Virtual Universe, allowing robots to watch online in real-time. In contrast, Snowfield Trials occur in the real world and can be viewed via radio broadcasts and telescopes. While the court scenes are similar, the snowfield trials appear more crude by comparison.
Battle on a balance: A large balance device is present at the court scene. The two parties stand on the trays at each end of the balance, and they debate without lawyers. In the middle of the balance stands a unicorn breast called “Xiezhi” (Chinese: 獬豸), a traditional symbol of justice controlled by a pseudo-AI that adjusts the balance’s tilt in real time based on various factors. Its horn and scrutinizing eyes always point to the party losing the debate. Below the trays are punishment effects such as flames and ice water holes.
Judge’s ruling: After the prosecution and defense present their arguments, the judge will explain the trial reasoning and deliver the verdict with justifications. The losing party will be dropped into the punishment effects beneath the balance’s tray.
Appeal and final judgment: Cases where parties choose to appeal or involve significant organizations will be escalated to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court’s judgment is final.
Problems
Lack of written laws and over-reliance on judges’ discretion: The Robot Civilization has only established a provisional constitution, resulting in many cases lacking specific legal foundations. Mediations and judgments rely heavily on moral ethics, social conventions, community rules, past precedents, and judges’ interpretations of the constitution’s intentions. Judges in the Circuit Court wield significant discretionary power, leading to public dissatisfaction with some rulings.
Over-entertainment: The so-called battle on a balance is a deliberate design by the Robot Engineers Association, aimed at turning the trial process into a dramatized performance to entertain audiences and draw public attention to legal matters. In addition to the existing “balance” theme, they are also creating more absurd themes.
However, this has led robots to misuse judicial resources for entertainment purposes. Many engage in dramatic performances in court, with audience members adding fuel to the fire; such nonsense has become a major headache for judges. Although offenders may be punished for contempt of court, but the penalties are often too small to deter misbehavior. Some judges have half-jokingly remarked that the Circuit Court has turned into a “Circus Court.”
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