In the hearing court, Judge Christine sat high on the bench, wearing a black judge's robe, which gave her a special air of authority.
Lu Ming looked at her and felt helpless.
I've been a bit unlucky recently. I always meet her at hearings. I don't know if she is here to cause trouble on purpose.
Lu Ming wanted to send more than a dozen Japanese people and companies to the dock in one breath.
Today is the day when the presiding judge will hold a hearing to determine whether this economic dispute is established.
The first defendant, Kato Shio, is the younger brother of Katsura Ayaka's late husband, Kato Sanryū.
He was also the main person responsible for transferring property.
He was the one who responded most actively. At this moment, he stared at Lu Ming with his small eyes, with an indescribable gloom on his face.
Kato Shio's representative lawyer, Kawashima Tsuyoshi, is also a sixth-dan barrister and a native of Tokai. The Kawashima Law Firm he founded is quite famous in economic lawsuits.
Lu Ming was also looking at Kawashima Qi, who was in his fifties, a little bald, and looked rustic. The kimono he wore was very cheap, as if it was bought at a roadside stall, and was wrinkled.
A sudden chuckle came from the side, and it turned out to be Tie Xiaojia, the assistant.
Seeing Lu Ming looking over, Tie Xiaojia whispered, "Master, this old farmer is really interesting."
Lu Ming shook his head. Those who like to use strange clothes to show their personality are either very attractive or pretentious.
But I think the reason why he was able to become a six-stage barrister was because of the former.
In the judge's seat, Christine flipped through the plaintiff's complaint, glanced at Lu Ming who was whispering with his apprentice, and frowned slightly.
"Plaintiff, the lawsuit and injunction you filed this time are ridiculous!" Christine shook her head and picked up the gavel, obviously intending to rule that the case was invalid.
"Your Honor, please give me a minute to explain your reasons!" Lu Ming stood up quickly.
On the other side, Kawashima Qi, who looked like an old farmer in the countryside, stood up and said, "Your Highness, I also think that this lawsuit is ridiculous. Most of the assets that the plaintiff requested to be frozen are in the bank accounts and company names of the Yingzhou Kingdom. Even if the plaintiff wants to file a lawsuit, he should go to the Yingzhou court."
Christine nodded slightly and raised the gavel.
"Sir, one minute!" Lu Ming raised a finger, looking pitiful.
Christine glared at him and slowly lowered the gavel.
"That's right, sir. Although the property that Miss Gui Linghua should have inherited was transferred to Yingzhou by the defendant, this case is first and foremost a case of inheritance. Miss Gui Linghua has lived in Donghai for more than ten years, and the property she was supposed to inherit was also in Donghai. Therefore, Miss Gui Linghua filed a lawsuit for inheritance rights in the local court, and the court should support it."
"But now these properties are no longer in the East China Sea!" Kawashima Qi said slowly, "Yingzhou has its own laws, and the Empire also recognizes the authority of Yingzhou laws in the local area, right?"
Lu Ming nodded: "That's true, but Your Honor, according to the goddess of justice, Queen Alice allowed courts of all levels to be established within the kingdom a thousand years ago, and the Griffinni Kingdom Code that was concluded states, 'The world is one, all races are equal, and all injustices can be appealed to courts at all levels.' This code is also the cornerstone of our current constitution, equivalent to the status of the First Amendment. Therefore, although the Yingzhou Kingdom and my kingdom are a federation with the same status and common interests, the courts of my kingdom can also bring charges against crimes that occurred within the Yingzhou Kingdom, especially those involving taxpayers who have lived in my kingdom for more than ten years. We should uphold justice for her legal rights!"
Judge Christine frowned immediately.
Kawashima Qi was also stunned. "What nonsense are you talking about? What qualifications do you, the local court of the Kingdom of Griffinni, have to judge the affairs of my Kingdom of Yingzhou?"
Obviously, even though he was born and raised in the East China Sea, he is still a Japanese, and his heart is also a Japanese heart.
Lu Ming looked at him: "You mean, Queen Alice's teachings from thousands of years ago were bullshit? The cornerstone of our imperial law is bullshit? The First Amendment is a show?!"
Kawashima Qi was stunned for a moment. How dare this guy say that about Queen Alice
Judge Christine frowned and banged the gavel on the bench: "Plaintiff's lawyer, please watch your words!"
"Okay, Your Honor, I apologize for my careless words!" Lu Ming bowed slightly.
After deep thought, Christine said slowly, "I need time to think about this case, but I agree with some of the plaintiff's points. I will issue a temporary restraining order, notify the relevant Yingzhou people and companies, and temporarily freeze the property involved in the case."
"I protest!" Kawashima was shocked. He originally thought that this case was ridiculous, but unexpectedly, he got the support of the judge.
"Adjournment. I will make a final ruling on whether this court has jurisdiction at 3 pm!" Christine completely ignored Kawashima, banged the gavel, and left.
Kawashima Qiye had no choice but to stand up with everyone else and watch Christine's back as she entered the side door.
When Judge Christine completely disappeared and everyone in the courtroom was free to move around, Kawashima Qi looked at Lu Ming and said, "You are all ridiculous!"
Lu Ming coughed. It would be very cool if he could use this long-arm jurisdiction.
…
The food in the court's restaurant is pretty average.
Lu Ming, his eldest disciple, his second disciple, and Gui Linghua sat at a small wooden table and grabbed some sandwiches, milk, and the like.
The hearing was over and it was almost time for lunch, so I simply took my two apprentices around to walk around and feel the atmosphere of the court.
"Master, you are so powerful. Just because of you, our court can even take care of the Japanese affairs?!" Tie Xiaojia's face was full of admiration.
Gui Linghua rolled her eyes in her heart. This tomboy only knew how to wag her tail to her master every day and ignored everyone else.
But then he remembered the sinister look of Kato Shizo in the court, and he couldn't help but shudder.
"Ms. Gui Linghua, don't worry. Once we win the lawsuit, I will arrange for you to live in a place where no one knows you and no one can find out where you came from. You can start your life with a new identity. Even if we lose, I will keep my promise."
Arriving in court and facing the members of the Kato family, the biggest variable now is Katsura Ayaka. If she backs down, everything will be in vain.
So Lu Ming kept observing her expression.
"Mr. Lu, I understand, thank you!" Gui Linghua felt a little relieved. It seemed that this lawyer Lu had a complicated background, probably not worse than the Kato family. He had patrol police following him and protecting him 24 hours a day.
Lu Ming also noticed it. Gui Linghua glanced at the patrolmen at the table nearby.
I know what she's thinking, but I won't say it out loud.
Moreover, it is also a deterrent to the Kato family. After all, the uniforms of the state's violent machine will still make people think twice before acting.
However, the original protection plan for myself was for one month, and now it has been extended again.
The main patrol department really didn't want this nice job to end. Every patrol officer who had his turn to protect them was very happy, and some even fought over who protected them for a day longer and who protected them for a day less.
The patrol department found all kinds of excuses to submit reports to extend the time, and the superiors in the bureau turned a blind eye. Who could blame Lawyer Lu for receiving the order at the right time? In particular, if Lawyer Lu was protected, who knows, after a long time, someone might donate another car to the bureau.
Thinking about this, Lu Ming shook his head. This era is hard to describe in a few words.