Court Is Now In Session
Posted on Mon Jan 6th, 2025 @ 5:26pm by Captain Marc Kidd & Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal
Edited on on Tue Jan 7th, 2025 @ 10:56pm
1,551 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: Captain's Ready Room - Deck 3 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD011 1800 hrs
Lieutenant Commander Corin hadn't had time to learn anything about Captain Kidd, she'd been too busy pouring over everything his crew had documented about the pending case she was jumping in on to spend time on anything else. She didn't mind the cramming session on her way to rendezvous with the Artemis. She always reaped the benefits of a nice adrenaline boost when she was up against a deadline.
But it had to be this case. Reading through the files had brought up the Bajoran's own childhood memories. Memories that she tried to forget.
When Corin stepped off of the turbolift and onto the Bridge she glanced around a little uneasily, giving the officers who had looked her way a half smile. She hadn't spent much time at all on the Bridge of any ship. It took her a second to get her bearings before she realized which way to walk to the Ready Room. Once she was there, she activated the chime announcing her arrival.
Marc was in over his head and he knew it. At the moment his desk was covered with PADDs as he poured over Federation Law, and precedent. He searched for anything that could help. Add to that he had filed an unknown amount of requests with Admiral Ford for a JAG officer to take over the case. Thus far those requests fell on deaf ears. When the door chime went off it was both welcome and unwelcome at the same time. He exhaled heavily and for a moment thought he would tell whoever it was to go away. "Right then come on in."
Layal walked into the Ready Room like she might a courtroom, shoulders back and head high. She noticed the scattered mess of PADDs on the Captain's desk, though thought nothing of it, as hers often looked the same when she was in the middle of something. "I like to call that organized chaos," she said with a sly smile as she gestured with her eyes toward his desk. "Captain, I'm Corin Layal. The JAG office sent me here to step in as prosecution on this case involving Gul Vamcet."
At the sound of her last sentence Marc's ears perked up and he smiled. He noticed the pips on her collar and and thanked anyone and everyone for this. "Commander welcome aboard the Artemis, have a seat. Can I get you anything?" He poured himself the umpteenth cup of coffee. "I cannot say enough how much I appreciate you coming here. I am sure it was short notice."
"No thank you, I'm fine," Layal replied as she took a seat. "I was able to get transportation out here the same day we heard you were needing someone to step in. I spent the trip reading everyone's reports so that I could jump in when I got here. I just heard there have been some pretty significant developments though." Layal crossed her legs as she got comfortable in her seat. "I may have a little more catching up to do."
"Indeed. Our medical team has discovered a tumor in the Gul's brain. It sits in the part that rationalizes right from wrong. Here this report from our Medical Examiner will explain it a lot better than I can." He slid a PADD containing Kenobi and Canak's reports. "It is believed that he turned himself in because he feels some genuine remorse. Of course I am not sure what if anything this means for the case. I have been trying to find some legal precedents but have thus far struck out there. There are other developments as well but I think that is the where we should start." Marc could feel the weight slowly coming off his shoulders. He did not know too much in this moment but he knew that he would do everything in his power to make sure that Layal remained on this ship.
Layal uncrossed her arms and leaned forward in her seat to take the PADD. "So, he feels remorse now that tumor is sitting on the area of his brain that knows right from wrong. Sounds like his lifelong personality disorder has a cure, Captain," she said with a smirk. She took a deep breath and sat up in her chair and thought for a moment.
"It's not terribly surprising really. I mean it is surprising that a tumor would be so precisely placed to have this side effect. But a fair number of... people who can stomach the level of violence and torture that this man inflicted on his victims do end up diagnosed with a personality disorder. What matters legally is whether or not the defendant is found fit to stand trial," Layal explained. "If they are then trial or plea negotiations proceed as planned. Occasionally an individual accepts treatment for the mental illness which is a factor for sentencing. A lot of times they don't."
She shrugged, obviously not as sympathetic to how or why Vamcet was in custody with a full confession as the Captain was.
"There is part of the rub. The Gul does know about his medical condition, at least not yet. I have told the doctor to with hold that information just until we can figure out a legal strategy. As for the profile we have a profiler working that up if you want to meet with them." Marc paused for a moment as he considered what she had just said. "Are you insinuating that the tumor may have been placed on purpose? It is rather convenient. But, Doctor Canak says if we remove the tumor he will revert back to his previous personality. My question is if he refuses the surgery is he competent to stand trial? I mean by definition the tumor is altering his personality and brain structure."
"I don't have experience or knowledge on tumors being placed intentionally. And I don't know who he would have been around who might have been inclined to do such a thing. Unless... Could it have been a treatment of sorts to allow him to live in polite Cardassian society that went further than it's original intent?" Layal asked hypothetically. "True psychopaths don't know how to just stop. Not having someone to torture all of those years might have been torture itself."
"As for competency to stand trial. I'm guessing you were looking for a black and white answer somewhere. You won't find one." Layal shook her head. "Ultimately that's the judge's call. The psychiatrists make recommendations, and second and third opinions don't always agree. After we all have access to the reports, the attorneys make our recommendations. If the defense and I are on the same page, usually the Judge will follow suit, but they aren't legally bound to," Layal explained. "We could have an entire trial on the issue of competency alone, but it could be moot here."
"If I were a defense attorney and wanted to challenge it, what does he get? A confession suppressed, because he otherwise would have exercised his right to remain silent?" Layal paused. "Then you lose the, 'I was sick when I committed all those war crimes in the first place,' defense." She resisted the urge to comment more, certain the Captain wouldn't appreciate the irony as much as her colleagues back home would.
"Anyway, hopefully he has a good defense attorney. It sounds like it's time for the two of them to have a nice long chat."
"Agreed..." Marc began and slid another PADD across his desk. "The medical staff is holding off informing the Gul of his condition until the legal side of things can be handled. I think once you get settled in and meet your staff, which included Vamcet's attorney Lieutenant Corwin, we can get that settled. That PADD contains all the information you are going to need about the judge Commodore S'Vrock of Vulcan has been appointed as our judge. He will hear all cases that we should bring. My belief is this can be both helpful and a hindrance. But that can be a conversation for another time. For now, as I said go meet your staff and get settled. We can discuss more once that is done."
Layal took the second PADD from the Captain. "Sure, Captain. I'll get right on this. Anything else I should know?"
Marc sat at his desk with his hands folded and thought for a moment. When he took this command he did not expect the stress to be as high as it was. He felt that he was perhaps more stressed than any other Captain in the fleet. He visibly softened his posture. "Nothing at the moment Commander save to say welcome aboard. And thanks for bailing my butt out of a sling. I will owe you one."
Layal grinned as she stood up. "Famous last words when spoken to an attorney, Captain. We tend to keep score."
A Joint Post By
Captain Marc Kidd
Commanding Officer, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal
Judge Advocate General, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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