Any questions or queries, let me know. Thanks!

That's a fairly good system I think

For the jury, I think that Congress is the option to go with, but I also think perhaps that each side of the case should choose 2 members of congress that shouldn't be part of the jury, (and maybe that the judge should also choose 2 that won't be part of the jury). That will ensure that those who might be on farther ends of bias won't be part of the decision, and it'll still leave 11 (or 9) members.

The judge would run proceedings, and once the jury has heard all the arguments, they'll vote (maybe they would have their own image to discuss on alone like a real jury?), and whatever 2/3 of them vote on (innocent or guilty) will be the verdict. The judge will decide on the punishment (the jury can make recommendations), and that'll be that.

And I'm honored you think I'd make a good judge :)

Sounds great, I'll make an official one and get it passed by Congress :)

Very epic

Are you holding a Congress vote here? If so I can help gather the Congressmen.

This is just a draft for now, I'm getting more ideas then I'll create an official one that Congress can pass.

I’m flattered you think of me as a judge. :)

But honestly, the thought of serving as a judge on a “trial” here fills me with dread. Trials here have proven challenging to almost unworkable to manage for all sorts of reasons:

—“Supreme Court”-type side streams have never really taken off.
—The IMGFLIP_PRESIDENTS main stream is a bit too fast-paced for a trial to get much traction. A trial could always in theory get spammed to page two or three or four by a round of Furret spam and then who the hell is gonna find it?
—Missed connections: The PRESIDENTS community is all over the world in different time zones. People log into Imgflip whenever they have a few free moments. Getting all the trial personnel in the same “room” at the same time is gonna be tough.

And yet, we need some way to manage drama on this stream and ensure good-natured trolling and sharp campaigning doesn’t cross that line into harassment.

I propose we turn the notion of “justice” on its head. A trial seeks to establish the “guilt” of the accused: or alternatively, the accused’s “innocence.” The truth usually lies somewhere in between those two poles. We’re not talking actual murders here, after all. We’re seeking to establish, basically, where exactly that line between trolling and harassment falls. It’s a gray area. It’s a judgment call. And reasonable people can decide differently.

What if instead of seeking after “guilt” or “innocence,” we seek for truth and reconciliation?

What if we simply get the accuser and the accused in a room together along with one mediator — have them talk out their differences openly and frankly? Have the process conclude with these simple words: “I’m sorry” and “apology accepted.”

It’d certainly be easier to manage than a full trial.

That’s not to say truth and reconciliation is an unserious process. Those unwilling to participate in it could still face penalties for flouting the justice process — “contempt of court,” basically.

Other alternative: Now that we have a financial system, this allows for the imposition of lighter, non-coercive “civil” penalties rather than the “criminal” punishment of a ban. What if the troll had to simply pay his target a fine, but didn’t otherwise have his “free speech” impaired?

I’ll be finding a way to work these principles into the N.E.R.D. Party Constitution.

I understand you scepticism, but I do have an answer.

- I plan to create another stream named IP_Court or something like that to handle trials. In the stream description, we'll put the date a time in CST for the next trial.

- We can memechat the plantiff and defendant along with their lawyers about what time fits for themand the whole jury doesn't need to be online for the trial. They can just make their verdict as soon as they get online.

I think the idea of just getting the two to say sorry is a bad idea but, the stream is a roleplay of Presidents and the American presidential system. I think that an official trial system would fit with the stream vibe quite well.

I also get how it'll be hell trying to get everyone online and stuff but if we make an official ruling and description of the rules in the courtroom, it can work.

How's this: We do a fake trial with volunteers to see how easy the courtroom trial can be. If it's difficult and not worth the hassle, we'll drop it. If it works pretty well, congress can decide whether or not they want the system in place.

Thanks for your input.

Yes, trials are a nice thing to roleplay from a government perspective — especially given the mostly U.S./British/Canadian userbase. Societies with a strong common law tradition and lots of lawyers. :) Though in my meme referenced above, it’s also been used in Canada to deal with issues like the widespread mistreatment of Native Americans at “residential schools.”

Truth and reconciliation is a form of justice that has a more global focus. It’s often used in post-conflict societies like South Africa that have few lawyers and where the goal isn’t rigorous due process, but rather simply getting opposing tribes and race groups to lay down their arms and stop killing each other. But you know what? It works! :)

Is our level of political development here on PRESIDENTS more like Western Europe/North America or a post-conflict African nation?

Well: That’s the question, isn’t it? :)

*I think the idea of just getting the two to say sorry is NOT a bad idea

Sorry lol, mistype

Hah. I was wondering :)