Editing Politics of Eritrea (section)

==== Special Court ====
The Special Court, the third and final element to the Eritrean judicial system, operates on a three-judge bench system and works under three themes: general criminal cases, corruption, and illegal foreign exchange and smuggling.<ref name=":0" />  Judges in this branch are either senior military members or former members of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, the leading group that fought for Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia.<ref name=":0" /> The Special Court is defined by its high level of autonomy and discretion; in fact, the Special Court operates in complete secrecy, so no published records of its procedures are available.<ref name=":0" /> Although the Office of the Attorney-General decides which cases are heard, judges are not bound by the Code of Criminal Procedure, Penal Code, or any precedence in law; rather, judges rely on their “conscience” to make most decisions.<ref name=":0" /> Furthermore, the court can re-open and adjudicate cases that have already been processed through federal courts, allowing for the occurrence of [[double jeopardy]]. Judges can also, without limit, intensify punishments that the government sees as insufficient.<ref name=":0" /> Moreover, during a trial, defendants are denied any form of representation and may even be asked to defend themselves in person.<ref name=":0" /> Except for rare instances when appeals are made to the Office of the President, there are no ways to challenge the rulings that result from the Special Court.<ref name=":0" />