Lords:Boards and Courts

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The Peerage Court and Peerage Board

Following the Rules of Order in the House of Lords, a Peer of the Realm, Steadholder of Grayson, or Senator of Haven, who have abused their position by violating an Admiralty Order or an Article of the Codes of Conduct to the detriment of the organization shall be summoned before a Peerage Court or a Peerage Board to determine the continued status of their Peerage.

A Peerage Court and a Peerage Board are similar in their processes and the actions they may take. A Peerage Court is a more “formal” process that includes the accused and presentation of a defense. All repeat violations will proceed directly to a Peerage Court. Only a Peerage Court may consider downgrade or removal of a peerage. In all instances, the Lord Speaker makes the final determination as to whether the House of Lords convenes a Peerage Court or a Peerage Board, taking all factors into consideration.

Peerage Court

These are typically called for the following offenses:

• Charges of violating an Active Admiralty Order (AO).
• Charges of violating the Code of Conduct.
• Repeat charges of violating an AO, the Code of Conduct, a Naval Directive, an Equivalent Branch Directive from any military or civilian branch, and/or a Space Lord Directive.
• Repeat charges of violating the Peerage Basic Rules of Conduct and/or Peer-Like Qualities after being given the opportunity to change (found later in this manual).
• Or a determination by the Lord Speaker that the circumstances warrant a Court, this may be after a recommendation of a Peerage Board.

Make up of the Court

Voting members include 5 peers of equal or greater peerage to the Accused. If there are not enough Peers of sufficient rank willing to serve on the Court then the Lord Speaker may deputise other peers as needed. Accused or the Advocate for the Accused, who is designated by the Accused. The Accused does not need to select an Advocate. Non-voting members include the JAG, Lord Speaker, and Deputy Lord Speaker.

General Process of the Court

1. The Court is selected by the Lord Speaker.
2. The Court is seated in the (virtual) deliberation room and provided all relevant documents for review including any JAG investigation.

Accused is summoned to the Court, provided explanation of process, timeline, and asked to name an Advocate if they wish to do so.

1. The Court is then convened.
2. Lord Speaker reads charges, outlines the process.
3. The JAG presents facts of the case. Accused or Advocate may ask clarification questions of the JAG.
4. The Accused or their Advocate presents their defense.
5. The Lord Speaker then adjourns to allow the Court time to review the facts and defense. Court may ask questions of the JAG and Accused or their Advocate. All questions will be submitted to the Lord Speaker and JAG.
6. The Court will then reconvene and Lord Speaker will outline next steps, including voting and options for discipline if applicable.
7. The Court will adjourn to the deliberation room.
8. The Court selects a “chair” who will manage their process and will deliberate and vote.
9. The Lord Speaker will read the verdict and carry out any discipline assigned by the court.
10. The members of the Court will be released.

Disciplinary Options

1. Take no action.
2. Counseling.
3. Mentoring.
4. Censure.
5. Abeyance.
6. Downgrade of Peerage (If at a level that can be downgraded).
7. Removal of Peerage.

The Court may vote on more than one option for discipline. In terms of Abeyance they may set a minimum time limit. They may also add advice or information to any measure to assist the Lord Speaker (for example, the Court advises mentoring on how to handle subordinates).

Voting Requirements for Disciplinary Options

Majority vote (at least 3 out of 5 voting members) for options 1-6. Unanimous vote for option 7 (removal of Peerage). It is worth noting that there is no appeals process for the removal of a peerage and a peerage removed via a peerage Court will not ordinarily be re-issued to the offender.

Peerage Board

These are typically formed for the following offenses:

• Charges of violating a Naval Directive, an Equivalent Branch Directive from any military or civilian branch, and/or a Space Lord Directive.
• Charges of violating Peerage Basic Rules of Conduct (later in this manual).
• Charges of violating Peer-Like Qualities.
• Or a determination by the Lord Speaker that the circumstances warrant a board.

Make up of the Board

Voting members includes 3 peers of equal or greater peerage. If there are not enough Peers of sufficient rank willing to serve on the board then the Lord Speaker may deputise other peers as needed. Non-voting members include JAG, Lord Speaker, Deputy Speaker

General Process of the Board

1. The Board is selected by Lord Speaker.
2. The Board is seated and provided all relevant documents for review including any JAG investigation.
3. The Lord Speaker provides an overview of the process.
4. The Board reviews and discusses all relevant documents and asks questions of the JAG and Lord Speaker.
5. Upon conclusion of deliberations, Lord Speaker provides overview of options and voting.
6. Board selects “Chair” and deliberates and votes.
7. The Lord Speaker will coordinate as necessary to carry out discipline.
8. The members of the Board will be released.

Disciplinary Options

1. Take no action.
2. Counseling.
3. Mentoring.
4. Censure.
5. Abeyance.
6. Referral to Court for possible peerage downgrade or removal.

The Board may vote on more than one option for discipline. In terms of Abeyance they may set a minimum time limit. They may also add advice or information to any measure to assist the Lord Speaker (for example, the Board advises mentoring on how to handle subordinates).

Voting Requirements for Disciplinary Options

A majority vote (2 out of 3 voting members) for all options.

Articles of Abeyance

1. If Abeyance is invoked, the Usage of the Title is suspended while abeyance is in effect.
2. If Abeyance is invoked, the Titleholder is ineligible for further elevation while abeyance is in effect.
3. If Abeyance is invoked, the Peerage Lands are considered dormant, and shall not be developed.
4. If Abeyance is invoked, the Peerage loses its place of seniority amongst the active Peers, and new Peers that are added while they are still in Abeyance.
5. If Abeyance is invoked, the Peerage Title will be changed to a blank device on the wall of peerage, and the name of the peer replaced with “Title in Abeyance”.
6. If Abeyance is invoked, the Peer shall not have access to or be involved in the Matters of the House of Lords while in Abeyance.
7. If Abeyance is invoked, the length of time will be determined by the Peerage Board or Court that recommended it.
8. The Lord Speaker, or a Peer appointed by the Lord Speaker, will present the Abeyance offer to the Peer in question.

Should the Peer in question reject the offer of Abeyance, the Lord Speaker will then return to the Peerage Court or Board to discuss alternative disciplinary options.

1. If Abeyance is invoked, the Peer shall be treated with the due respect of their title, without its direct use in any formal situation.
2. If Abeyance is invoked, at the end of the minimum Abeyance period, the Peer shall petition, in writing, the Lord Speaker for reinstatement of their Peerage.
3. If the minimum period has elapsed and the Peer has not petitioned for reinstatement, the Lord Speaker may recall the Peer in writing. This gives the Peer 30 days notice to gather evidence for a Court that will be formed to consider their Abeyance.

Ending Abeyance

If a Peer whose title is in Abeyance petitions the Lord Speaker for reinstatement, or the Lord Speaker recalls the Peer, then the Lord Speaker will convene a Peerage Court using the above processes to consider the petition.

This Court considers the evidence both of the previous offence, and any submission the suspended Peer can give as to their Peer-like behaviour since being in Abeyance. Ending Abeyance isn’t a right, and the peer should have been acting and working in a way that if they weren’t already a peer would have had them nominated for a new peerage.

This type of Court has several options they can vote to implement:

1. End Abeyance and restore the Peerage. The date of peerage (for order of precedence) is the date the order of reinstatement is published.
2. Extend Abeyance. The Court can vote to extend Abeyance for another minimum period to allow the suspended Peer to better show Peer like behaviour. No further petitions for reinstatement will be entertained until this new period has elapsed.
3. Downgrade Peerage. If the peerage is of a type that can be downgraded the Court can choose to do so.
4. Remove Peerage.

Voting Requirements

Majority vote (at least 3 out of 5 voting members) for options 1-3. Unanimous vote for option 4 (removal of Peerage). It is worth noting that there is no appeals process for the removal of a peerage and a peerage removed via a peerage Court will not ordinarily be re-issued to the offender.