By Marcel Ryan
It is said that art imitates life.
Nowhere is that statement truer than in the Star Wars Universe. Throughout the six films, we see plenty of different professions portrayed in that Galaxy Far, Far Away. We see farmers, bartenders, musicians, mechanics, baron administrators, pilots, cooks, and even crime lords. In the Expanded Universe, we get to experience even more real-world professions through the lens of the Star Wars setting.
One of the more overlooked and undiscussed professions that appears in the EU is the legal profession. Lawyers. Advocates. Attorneys. Prosecutors. It may surprise you to know that this seemingly mundane profession, which is near and dear to my own heart, is quite well-represented in the EU. My hope with this series of articles is to take you on a galactic tour of the legal profession as its portrayed in Star Wars. And maybe, just maybe, I can prove to you that not all lawyers are the “slimy pieces of worm-ridden filth” you’ve been led to believe.
In this first instalment, I’ll be showcasing one of the most famous lawyers in the EU: Nawara Ven.
Nawara Ven, known in the Twi’lek language Ryl as Nawar’aven (meaning “silver-tongued”) was a Twi’lek lawyer and member of the famous starfighter unit Rogue Squadron.
Ven first appeared in Michael A. Stackpole’s novel Rogue Squadron, which was published on January 1, 1996. What set him apart from some of the other Rogues we meet in that book is that he had a whole other life as a lawyer before joining the Rebel Alliance. In fact, Ven was motivated to join the Rebellion in the first place because of the injustices he witnessed while working in the Imperial legal system.
During his time with the Rogues, Ven would periodically adjudicate disputes between his fellow squadron-mates. But his most famous moments in the series would be featured in the third X-wing book by Michael A. Stackpole, The Krytos Trap.
The Krytos Trap was published on September 1, 1996. It follows the Rogues after the successful liberation of Coruscant in the second X-wing novel. Those who have read it will remember that Corran Horn, one of the most famous Rogue Squadron pilots of all time, was presumed dead by the New Republic after it was made to look as though his X-wing starfighter exploded on impact with a building on Coruscant. Horn had secretly been taken prisoner by Imperial Director Ysanne Isard and was jailed in her Lusankya prison facility, a Super Star Destroyer hidden on Coruscant.
So where does Nawara Ven come in? Well, following the events described above, fellow Rogue Squadron pilot Tycho Celchu was accused of murdering Corran Horn and put on trial for murder, as well as treason. Rogue Leader Wedge Antilles was absolutely convinced of his friend Tycho’s innocence. Accordingly, Nawara Ven was called on to represent Tycho as his defence attorney.
The trial that ensues is eye-opening. For perhaps the first time in the Star Wars universe, we get a glimpse into how the New Republic legal system works. Unsurprisingly (remember art imitates life), the proceedings are not all that different from what an American attorney would witness at trial.
To begin with, Ven meets with his client and debriefs him on the case they have to meet. He explains to Tycho that he’ll be relying on M-3PO (Emtrey), Rogue Squadron’s quartermaster droid to help him navigate the differences between military law and civil law. Here, we get the impression that Ven might be a bit out of his depth. He’s a civil lawyer being asked to defend a client in front of a military tribunal. And its at this point we realize that Star Wars got its own version of the classic film, A Few Good Men.
The prosecutor for this case is 34 year-old Commander Halla Ettyk. We’re told she made a name for herself as a prosecutor on Alderaan and that she was off-world deposing a witness when it was destroyed. Despite the fact that she had not apparently prosecuted a case in the last seven years (I guess the Rebel Alliance-turned-New Republic kept her busy), Ven doesn’t think Ettyk has lost any of her edge.
The tribunal itself is comprised of General Horton Salm, Admiral Gial Ackbar and General Crix Madine as judges. We’re told, right off the bat, that Salm has it in for Tycho. Bias, anyone?
Ven does a good job of describing his legal strategy to Wedge and Tycho in Chapter 4 of the book:
Wedge nodded: “So that’s the line of defense: Tycho’s been framed?”
“The truth always is the best defence. Their evidence is all circumstantial, so we can slip someone or several someones in to raise doubt about who actually committed the crime.” Nawara Ven pressed his hands flat on the table. “This trial will be played as much to public opinion as to the judges. It’s going to do no good if the people think Captain Celchu is guilty while the court lets him off...If we have public opinion looking at Captain Celchu as the last victim of Imperial intrigue, a Rebellion hero being destroyed by a bitter and vengeful Empire, we have a lot of maneuvering room in the aftermath of the trial.”
The stakes could not be higher for Tycho. If he wins the case, he wins his freedom. If he loses, it is likely the New Republic will execute him for treason.
As the trial begins, Ven cannot help but feel some nerves. This is natural. Even the most seasoned trial attorneys still feel nervous before a big hearing. It’s what keeps them on their toes. Prosecutor Ettyk calls her first witness, Lieutenant Pash Cracken. Ettyk wants to use Cracken to establish motive, means and opportunity for killing Corran. In fact, she even requests permission to treat him as a hostile witness, which means she can start asking leading questions of her own.
Now we’re in the thick of it. During Ettyk’s direct examination of her witness, Ven yells out an “objection!” to the court. He explains to the judges that Ettyk’s line of questioning is irrelevant and the prosecution provided no foundation to demonstrate the witness could answer. Admiral Ackbar gives a slow nod and, in typical TV courtroom drama fashion, tells him that his objection is sustained.
Later in the proceedings, Ven accuses Ettyk of “grossly misusing” the hearsay exception. Just like in our world, there appear to be exceptions carved out for hearsay evidence.
So here we see that a New Republic military trial is not so different, despite being conducted in a Galaxy Far, Far Away. The two sides will call their witnesses in order to make their case and/or undermine their opponent’s case. Whoever calls the witness may examine them first. Then, the other side gets to cross-examine the witness and ask their own set of questions, usually questions that are leading in nature. In the end, the judges will decide who made the more persuasive case. They may apply the facts as presented to various legal tests, and then they will render a decision.
The tribunal proceedings continue onward. Ettyk calls fellow Rogue and secret Imperial spy Erisi Dlarit to the stand. Following Erisi’s testimony, further evidence is given by Iella Wessiri, Corran’s former CorSec partner and current New Republic operative. After several objections and some fiery courtroom drama, Admiral Ackbar calls for a recess of one week to attend to other matters. At the same time as this trial, the Krytos virus is ripping through the non-human population of Coruscant.
It's worth mentioning that even though Halla Ettyk is the adversary, she’s not your traditional literary antagonist. We get the sense that this woman is a true professional. She’s been called upon to do a job and she intends to get it done to the best of her ability. The only issue is that job requires her to prosecute fan favorite Tycho Celchu, who the reader knows is innocent.
Things start to go sideways for the defence when the tribunal reconvenes and Wedge Antilles is called to the stand. He may be one of the best fighter pilots in the galaxy, but Halla Ettyk rules the courtroom. She skillfully manages to make his answers look like they support suspicion on Tycho’s action. The testimony is so damning that after Wedge exits the courtroom, he’s asked the following question by a holonet news reporter:
“How does it feel, Commander, to know that your testimony is what will convict Captain Celchu?”
Nawara Ven manages to win back some lost ground through his questioning of New Republic intelligent operative Tsillen Wel. The trial really kicks into overdrive when Ven is unexpectedly contacted by Imperial agent Kirtan Loor, who offers to testify in Tycho’s favor in exchange for immunity and protection from his former master, Ysanne Isard. Unfortunately, Loor never gets to give his testimony. He is killed and Nawara Ven is injured when Iella Wessiri’s husband Diric turns out to be a brainwashed Imperial sleeper agent and shoots the two of them on their way to the courtroom.
Fortunately, before Loor was killed, Ven met with Ettyk and explained what Loor’s testimony would have been. Unfortunately, his death complicated matters for the tribunal. Not only was Ven out of commission from Diric’s attack, but the defence’s star witness was now dead. Tycho offers to testify on his own behalf, but Ettyk tells him that would be a mistake since she would rip him apart (her literal words) on cross-examination.
While the tribunal continues to deliberate on how to move forward, something completely unexpected happens. In one of the most memorable courtroom scenes ever, Corran Horn appears in the court’s open doorway:
“Begging your pardon, Admiral. I think Whistler intends for me to be called as a witness.”
Ackbar’s barbels twitched. From the black depths all manner of beasts can swim. “This is impossible.”
“It wasn’t easy.” Corran Horn smiled, “but as for impossible, Admiral, you know impossible is what Rogue Squadron does best of all.”
So, there you have it. In typical Corran Horn fashion, he managed to escape Isard’s prison and show up for his own murder trial at the pivotal moment, making this trial one for the ages.
Shortly thereafter, Tycho Celchu is completely exonerated. Furthermore, I’m happy to report that Nawara Ven makes a complete recovery and lives to fight another day, both in the courtroom and in the cockpit. Our favorite Twi’lek lawyer gets the opportunity to showcase his legal skills again, several decades later, following the Second Galactic Civil War. This will be discussed in further detail in my next article. But for now, this is where we’ll adjourn.
Join me next time as I showcase the trial of Tahiri Veila as seen in the Fate of the Jedi books. In the meantime, go read The Krytos Trap!
Comentarios