GTA:LS Judiciary
Get Involved
The LS Judiciary offers unique and rewarding roleplay for those who put the effort in. For example, as a solicitor you might do everything from representing a client at a police station to being the crown prosecutor in high-profile court cases. You can apply for the role of judge and solicitor by walking up to our very own paralegal Frank, located on the first floor of City Hall, and filling out the short application form.
Frank also has additional information about the court system that might be useful for someone trying to get more involved.
House Raid - Warrant Procedure
Occupations
Below you will find a summary of each role and occupation to help you understand how each piece in the legal system works.
Supreme Court Judge
The role of a “Supreme Court Judge” upholds the court and legal system of Los Santos; they will carry out a multitude of roles from commissioning of new judges and handing out solicitor licenses to carrying out the training of new appointees. Three Supreme Court Judges hold positions on the supreme court and on rare occasions will retry cases that have been successfully repealed from the lower courts. It’s the Senior Judges responsibility to make sure the court has legitimacy in the eyes of the city council as well as with the large factions that inhabit the island.
Judge
The role of a judge is to interpret the law in court proceedings, they will also have the role of accessing people for the role of solicitor and carry out sessions in court. Judges are also responsible for the flow of a trial and it’s their duty to make sure everyone involved knows what they’re doing, especially the Jury if one's present.
Solicitor
A solicitor is an individual who has been licensed by the court to carry out legal representation on behalf of the prosecution, or the defence.
Prosecution
The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the case in a criminal trial against an individual accused of breaking the law.
Prosecution Solicitor
The prosecution solicitor explains to the court what the defendant is accused of.
The prosecution solicitor must show the jury enough evidence to make them feel really sure that the defendant is guilty.
Defence
The defence team represents and protects the rights of defendants (suspect or accused). All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before the court.
Defence Solicitor
The defence solicitor represents the person accused of the crime. The defence does not have to prove that the accused is innocent, just that the prosecution’s arguments are not good enough.
The solicitor points out to the jury what they think is wrong with the prosecution's evidence. They will try to show that there are other possible explanations. Their arguments are called the case for the defence.
Defendant
A person who is accused of committing a crime.
Jury - only for High Profile Cases
A member of the jury is an impartial individual who is there to look at each solicitor's arguments and weigh the evidence. At the conclusion of a trial all members of the Jury will go into a room and discuss the case until either they find the defendant not guilty, or a 70/30 majority does find the defendant guilty.
Public Gallery
The Gallery is where members of the public sit and watch the trial, the phrase ‘gallery’ is often shorthand for ‘members of the public watching the trial’ for example if the public was making too much noise and impeding on the trial, the Judge may ask to ‘remove the gallery’ meaning the court session will no longer be open to public viewing, and those sat on the benches will be escorted out.