Don't the Sith/Dark jedi etc. have legal protection?

[Havok]

This version shows no trace of treason, since Mace said he was there on behalf of the Senate whom the Jedi legally serve.

Except Mace wasn't there on behalf of the Senate, seeing as how the Senate in no way authorized his actions. He was acting entirely on the behalf of the Jedi Order, and probably figured the Senate would rubberstamp it afterwards.

Well according to the movies only, there is no way Palpatine would know that.

[LaCroix]

Ahem.. he is Chancellor, anything going on in senate would be known.

The senate could only give order to the jedi by a vote, and his office is directly connected to the senate chamber, you forgot? Also, he has a lot of guys running around in the senate for him, and only the force knows how many hidden surveilance gimmicks.

No snowball's chance in hell he would NOT know about a senatorial vote to arrest him!

[Ritterin Sophia]

Even IF we assume what you're saying is true--and again i've seen no evidence of non-Force Sith OR Jedi--it makes no difference.

Of course you have, it's as clear as the Massassi Temple's on Yavin IV, assuming you've seen ANH. The Massassi were the Sith warrior caste, blindly treating the Dark Jedi/Sith at first as gods and then later, after interbreeding with the Jedi Exhiles, as lords. Hell, by the Great Hyperspace War, most Sith were half-breeds or some other portion of human and sith. The Massassi got to Yavin IV as the crew of Naga Sadows capship, then later Exar Kun came and killed a Sith Wyrm (A Baby Space Slug had attached itself to Naga Sadows ship, and after arriving on Yavin IV, he did experiments on it with Sith Alchemy) with a dark side empowered talisman of some sorts. Then after Ulic turned on Kun, and the Republic was at his door step, Kun sacrificed the lives of his worshippers to become a Dark Side Spirit that could interact with the galaxy, through possession, trickery, and Sith Lightning.

[Havok]

Ahem.. he is Chancellor, anything going on in senate would be known.

The senate could only give order to the jedi by a vote, and his office is directly connected to the senate chamber, you forgot? Also, he has a lot of guys running around in the senate for him, and only the force knows how many hidden surveilance gimmicks.

No snowball's chance in hell he would NOT know about a senatorial vote to arrest him!

Where does it say anywhere that the Jedi can only serve, or as you put it, be given an order by the Senate through a vote? This thread seems to need proof to back statements like that up. So give me some proof. How many "guys" exactly are running around? Where are all these surveilance devices at?

As powerfull as Palpatine is, he is not omnipotent. So "anything going on in the Senate" might be missed.

[Noble Ire]

As powerfull as Palpatine is, he is not omnipotent. So "anything going on in the Senate" might be missed.

But he does know that he has a supermajority in the Senate, and many of the senators are his lackeys and puppets. The Senate simply could not have passed a resolution to impreach or arrest him, and certainly not without his knowledge. Additionally, Palpatine does have an extensive surveilance network set up, as per the New Essential Guide to Droids. He pushes through a measure to reinforce Senate "security" by deploying additional monitor droids (like the camera models seen in TPM); a dissenting senator even disappears mysteriously after the droids are deployed.

[Publius]

Cloak of Deception makes very clear that the Jedi were forbidden to intervene in matters involving Republic members without express authorization from the Senate; the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook specifically states that "the Republic and the Jedi are not the same, and the Jedi hold no authority in the Republic," and "serve when asked and stand aside at all other times"; it "receives its funds from the Republic Senate, in return for which the Jedi make their services available to the Supreme Chancellor."

In Cloak of Deception, Supreme Chancellor Valorum asks Senator Palpatine to introduce a motion for the Senate to "sanction Jedi involvement" in the investigation of the Nebula Front's activities, even after a pair of Jedi had already foiled a Nebula Front assassination attempt on the Supreme Chancellor and had earlier foiled an attempted act of piracy by a mercenary working for the Nebula Front. Clearly, Jedi 'jurisdiction' is limited if involvement in a single matter requires periodic reauthorization by the entire legislature. Given that the Jedi Order is an autonomous militant cult whose members usually possess psychokinetic, telepathic, and mentalic abilities (in addition to extensive physical training and training in the use of deadly weapons), it is not unreasonable for the civil government to desire to maintain strict controls over their activities.

One must especially consider that, unlike professional police forces, the Jedi do not appear to undergo any training vis-à-vis civil rights. Jedi Knights have been known to make very casual use of their psychic and mentalic powers, to the point that Obi-Wan Kenobi did not so much as bat an eye at the idea of altering a drug-dealer's mind in Attack of the Clones. Jedi Knights are capable of manipulating a sapient being's memories, exerting mind-altering influences, and reading people's minds -- and frequently do so, without the consent or even knowledge of their subjects. It is perhaps a telling point that the large majority of the most powerful and destructive Sith Lords -- including Exar Kun, Ulic Qel-Droma, Darth Revan, Darth Malak, Darth Sion, Darth Nihilus, Darth Traya, Darth Ruin, Darth Tyranus, and Darth Vader -- were all Jedi Knights. A number of other notable dark side magi -- Jerec, Kadann, Jedgar, Tremayne, Ameesa Darys, Maw, Volfe Karkko, Tol Skorr, Sora Bulq, Lycan, Nikkos Tyris, and Kadrian Sey -- were also former Jedi, as were all of Exar Kun's Brotherhood of the Sith and most of Darth Ruin's heretics.

It is with good reason that the Senate should desire to maintain strict control of Jedi activities, given the amount of damage that rogue Jedi could and frequently did do.

[Noble Ire]

It is perhaps a telling point that the large majority of the most powerful and destructive Sith Lords -- including Exar Kun, Ulic Qel-Droma, Darth Revan, Darth Malak, Darth Sion, Darth Nihilus, Darth Traya, Darth Ruin, Darth Tyranus, and Darth Vader -- were all Jedi Knights.

Was it ever verified, in-game or elsewhere, that Sion and Nihilus were ever Jedi? I recall references to Traya once having been a Jedi Master, but I don't remember anything similar having been said of the other two. They were Sith during the War of the Star Forge (and I suppose that one could assume that they joined its ranks by following Revan during into Mandalorian Wars), but that does not necessarily mean that they were once Jedi as well.

[Publius]

Was it ever verified, in-game or elsewhere, that Sion and Nihilus were ever Jedi? I recall references to Traya once having been a Jedi Master, but I don't remember anything similar having been said of the other two. They were Sith during the War of the Star Forge (and I suppose that one could assume that they joined its ranks by following Revan during into Mandalorian Wars), but that does not necessarily mean that they were once Jedi as well.

Upon review, you are correct. Even if, however, they were never Jedi, the fact remains that their predecessors (Darth Revan, Darth Malak) and successors (Darth Ruin, Lord Kaan, et al.) were Jedi, as indeed were a number of the Galactic Emperor's Inquisitors. Even among the new Jedi, there is a distressing tendency toward rogue Jedi being serious threats to galactic order (e.g., Kyp Durron, Kueller, Brakiss, Desann and Tavion Axmis). Being a Jedi is no guarantee of moral fibre.

[Galvatron]

Being a Jedi is no guarantee of moral fibre.

Publius is turning me into an anti-Jedite.

[18-Till-I-Die]

But the thing is, most or ALL of those people turned to the Sith AFTER they were exposed to the Dark Side. Exposure over long term to the Dark Side seems to cause even normal people to become horrific killers. Remember what it DOES...the Dark Side is all about releasing all inhibitions. Most of our inhibitions are good things like, dont kill, dont steal, dont rape, etc...the Dark Side can only be accessed when you eleminate that. Combine that with the fact the Dark Side feeds on 'strong' emotions like hate (Darth Vader), rage (Darth Sion), lust (for power like Palpatine or just hunger, like Darth Nihilus) and greed (Darth "All The Force Is Mine!" Bane).

Which mainly proves two things--

The Dark Side causes sociopathic tendancies in it's users (which i've been saying since page 1 here)

And the Dark Side is, most likely, a force of tremendous evil (which Lucas has been saying in the films since Empire Strikes Back)

[Noble Ire]

Again, 18, you seem to be assuming that the galaxy at large really understands how the Force, and the Dark Side, work. Considering the fact that the Jedi Order was rather secretive with its policies and practices, there is no reason to think that everyone knows all that they do about the Sith. As I have said, many people didn't even make a major distinction between the two factions.

[18-Till-I-Die]

Again, 18, you seem to be assuming that the galaxy at large really understands how the Force, and the Dark Side, work. Considering the fact that the Jedi Order was rather secretive with its policies and practices, there is no reason to think that everyone knows all that they do about the Sith. As I have said, many people didn't even make a major distinction between the two factions.

I'm not saying that, in this case. I'm saying that the fact that Jedi turned into Sith came after their exposure over time to the corrupting forces of the Dark Side.

Although, EARLIER, i was making an argument that the Jedi could have and should have made the argument that being a Sith made Palpatine mentally unfit for office, seeing the effects the Dark Side have on people. Perhaps the general public know jack squat about the Force (a valid point) BUT the people who would be judges, jurries (assuming such conventions exist in the GFFA) would most certainly be better informed or would be educated about it during the trial and/or impeachment process.

That is, assuming in this alternate reality the Jedi caught him. We know that in the real story he was too powerful to be outright defeated, and Anakin turned to the Dark Side (after, interestingly enough, being exposed to it for quite a while through Palpatine's corruptive influence) and that was that. But they would have a case.

Just like if it came out Bush has syphilus of the brain and was going mad (actually that's a pretty good theory in fact...) he would most surely be found unfit for office if it came out and he would be discharged.

[Civil War Man]

But the thing is, most or ALL of those people turned to the Sith AFTER they were exposed to the Dark Side. Exposure over long term to the Dark Side seems to cause even normal people to become horrific killers. Remember what it DOES...the Dark Side is all about releasing all inhibitions. Most of our inhibitions are good things like, dont kill, dont steal, dont rape, etc...the Dark Side can only be accessed when you eleminate that. Combine that with the fact the Dark Side feeds on 'strong' emotions like hate (Darth Vader), rage (Darth Sion), lust (for power like Palpatine or just hunger, like Darth Nihilus) and greed (Darth "All The Force Is Mine!" Bane).

Which mainly proves two things--

The Dark Side causes sociopathic tendancies in it's users (which i've been saying since page 1 here)

And the Dark Side is, most likely, a force of tremendous evil (which Lucas has been saying in the films since Empire Strikes Back)

Consider this for a moment. Just an alternative to the voodoo pharmacology interpretation of the Force (i.e. That Dark Side makes you go insane).

You mention yourself about the Dark Side being about releasing inhibitions. That would make it a lot like a certain mind-altering substance here on Earth known as alcohol. Consumption of alcohol reduces a person's inhibitions, which causes them to say things they would not say sober. However, it doesn't force people to say things that deep down they believe to be completely false.

Now look at the Jedi for a moment. A Jedi Knight is forced to bottle up absolutely everything, good or bad. Hate, greed, and lust are not allowed to show. But neither is most forms of love beyond a vague general benevolence. You aren't allowed to be attracted to anyone. You aren't allowed to be married unless your species has a population problem (and even then, affection is viewed askance). If you have a vision of a tragedy to someone close to you, you are instructed to simply smile as one of the bright spots in your life is gruesomely snuffed out.

And all of that, good or bad, gets bottled up in the darkest recesses of the Jedi's mind. All the resentments, wants, hopes, dreams, and fears sit there seething, but you are unable to get rid of it because any action that would relieve them is prohibited by the Order.

Now enter the Dark Side. Your inhibitions are released. All of it comes pouring out. Reminiscent of the Preacher's Daughter syndrome, or Mel Gibson on a beer run.

Perhaps that is why so many destructive Sith Lords, including the very first ones, were formerly members of the Jedi Order.

EDIT: Going by the Dark-Side-being-alcohol-like angle, overuse of the Dark Side, like in the case of Palpatine or the Evil-incarnate-scarring KOTOR characters develop, would be like alcoholism. However, short, brief bursts of the Dark Side would largely have no effect, so long as the person using it does not have any underlying mental or emotional problems to begin with. Jedi, being rabid fundies of the Star Wars universe, seem to have those problems in spades.

[18-Till-I-Die]

Thats ok for the Jedi but that doesnt explain those Sith who were just normal force sensitive people, who presumably had a chance to "work all that out of their system". Like Darth Bane, he grew up, as far as i recall, on some backwater. Or Palpatine, he never had ANY restraints on him at all, and he was as far into the Dark Side as it gets.

The general implication seems to be that the effects of the Dark Side itself have a corruptive influence.

To give a more real world example, look at what prolonged use of Meth does to a person. Or as i said, prolonged untreated siphilus of the brain. Both can and do cause madness, violent tendances, and the like. Some people think Jack the Ripper was a guy driven crazy by siphilus of the brain.

And thats 'just' a virus, or a drug in the case of Meth. We're talking here about an interstellar (possibly intergalactic or evenm extra-dimensional) energy force which can exert real, tangible, quantifiable effects on matter and energy (TK, precognition, telepathy, etc) now imagine what letting the "bad" side of that energy, the decaying and corrupting side, run wild in your brain does.

You'd be safer taking a metric assload of Meth with fistfulls of coke to chase it down than giving in to the Dark Side.

But yes you're right one of the reasons people turn to the darkside is that people want things they cant havem either by personal choice (like teh Jedi) or the inability to get it any other way. So in a lot of ways it IS like an addictive, and phenominally dangerous, kind of drug. Booze would count as an example, but at the same time, no drug or disease have the same devastating effects on people. Look at people like Darth Malak.

He was a Jedi who along with some others was exposed to the Dark Side over time, but only a little at a time. Yet a few years later, BAM, the man's going around in red capes and calling himself 'Darth'.

[Civil War Man]

Thats ok for the Jedi but that doesnt explain those Sith who were just normal force sensitive people, who presumably had a chance to "work all that out of their system". Like Darth Bane, he grew up, as far as i recall, on some backwater. Or Palpatine, he never had ANY restraints on him at all, and he was as far into the Dark Side as it gets.

As I said in my post, they would be the Dark Side version of alcoholics, or had preexisting mental or emotional problems which exacerbated the situation.

As a counter-example, Luke Skywalker, for all his hang-ups, was raised in a much healthier childhood. He resented Owen for keeping him on the farm, but at no point did he wish any harm on either him or Beru. Most of the old masters would consider his Jedi training to be fundamentally flawed. Yoda seemed constantly frustrated at how Luke wasn't always following the standard Jedi train of thought (such as running off to help his friends instead of letting them get killed). He remained close to his friends, family. He even, Force forbid, got married.

Luke has also had several brushes with the Dark Side. The cave in Dagobah, choking guards in Jabba's palace (not to death, but still not a very Jedi-like act), both duels with his father, the events surrounding Dark Empire. And that's just off the top of my head. However, he's seemed to weather these brushes with the Dark Side remarkably well, particularly if you take Yoda's "Once you start down the Dark path" lecture at face value.

Look at people like Darth Malak.

He was a Jedi who along with some others was exposed to the Dark Side over time, but only a little at a time. Yet a few years later, BAM, the man's going around in red capes and calling himself 'Darth'.

Malak, along with Revan, obviously had a lot of pent-up resentment, towards the Jedi Council in particular, since the Council basically said, "No, you are not allowed to go help the Republic defeat a massive army that's going around torching worlds. Rushing off to try to prevent the deaths of millions to billions of innocent people is being too hasty. Let's think about it for a moment."

[Havok]

Again, 18, you seem to be assuming that the galaxy at large really understands how the Force, and the Dark Side, work. Considering the fact that the Jedi Order was rather secretive with its policies and practices, there is no reason to think that everyone knows all that they do about the Sith. As I have said, many people didn't even make a major distinction between the two factions.

Have any of us considered the possibility that the SW galaxy might have some equivalent to the History or Discovery channel and that the Jedi and their past have been talked about, covered and discussed at length.

Their history must be as fascinating to the inhabitants of the SW galaxy as it is to us. Same with their use of the Force. Surley there are people that want to do documentaries on them. And really, what exactly do they have to hide? If everyone in the galaxy knew how they trained or how they lived or how they used the Force would it really matter? You still couldn't stop them. And since any real threat to the Jedi seems either to come from their own ranks or the Sith, who use basically the same methods, what exactly would secrecy be needed for? Enh, just a thought.

[Noble Ire]

Again, 18, you seem to be assuming that the galaxy at large really understands how the Force, and the Dark Side, work. Considering the fact that the Jedi Order was rather secretive with its policies and practices, there is no reason to think that everyone knows all that they do about the Sith. As I have said, many people didn't even make a major distinction between the two factions.

Have any of us considered the possibility that the SW galaxy might have some equivalent to the History or Discovery channel and that the Jedi and their past have been talked about, covered and discussed at length.

Their history must be as fascinating to the inhabitants of the SW galaxy as it is to us. Same with their use of the Force. Surley there are people that want to do documentaries on them. And really, what exactly do they have to hide? If everyone in the galaxy knew how they trained or how they lived or how they used the Force would it really matter? You still couldn't stop them. And since any real threat to the Jedi seems either to come from their own ranks or the Sith, who use basically the same methods, what exactly would secrecy be needed for? Enh, just a thought.

The Jedi are essentially cloistered monks who have a habit of going out and chopping up people the Republic tells them to chop up (or in some cases, people they chop up of their own volition). They keep to themselves when not on duty because they believe that attachments to things and people that are not part of the Jedi way lead to the Dark Side. The inevitable side effect of this is that the Order is rather insular, and shuns outsiders. They don't fear the rest of the galaxy; they fear what they themselves might become if they were to be overly exposed to the rest of the galaxy. As such, laymen, even those with strong ties to the Order like Bail Organa, know little of their practices or the permutations of the Force. People might, and do, start rumors and guess things about the inner workings of the group, but they generally tend to be quite wrong (as seen in the Medstar Duology and Dark Rendevous).

And even those inclined to study up on Jedi history, as they no doubt can do, wouldn't know about the Order beyond their external exploits, simply because the Jedi had been insular since their founding, if to a lesser extent. The tradition would remain until Luke Skywalker restarted the Order, modifying it with rather more sensible and open practices.

[Havok]

Ok, back to the OP.

I don't think that Palpatine himself has legal/religious protection under the constitution any more, and him being a Sith or a suspected Sith, and especially Darth Sidious is grounds for his arrest. Here's why.

Page 151, Labyrinth Of Evil

Now Palpatine waited.
"It contained a stored message - a message transmitted to Viceroy Gunray from Darth Sidious."
Palpatine's broad forehead wrinkled in uncertainty.
"Sidious. I know the name..."
"Dooku's Sith Master, Sidious is. Learned of him on Geonosis, Master Kenobi did. but eluded us, proof of him has."
"Now I recall," Palpatine said. "Obi-Wan was told that this Sidious had somehow infiltrated the Senate."
"Dismissed that, we have. But lying about Sidious, Dooku wasn't."
Palpatine swiveled his chair toward the room's immense curved window, the panorama of Coruscant.
"Another Sith." Turning back to Yoda, He said: "Forgive me, but why is this of such great concern?"
"Carefully balanced this war has been. Republic victories, Separatist victories...In prolonging it, a part the Sith may play."
Again, Palpatine paused to consider Yoda's words. "I think I begin to understand the reasons for your secrecy. The Jedi are attempting to expose Sidious."
"In pursuit of clues, we are."
"Might the carpture of Sidious end the war?"
"Hasten the end," Mace said.
Palpatine nodded in finality. "Then I trust that you will accept my apologies. Do whatever you must to hunt Sidious down."

I know everyone is going to take this dialouge in differently, but to me it seems that in the last sentance, Palpatine gives the Jedi the authority and the "OK" to do whatever they must to hunt HIM down. So when Mace, once armed with the knowledge that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, goes to arrest him he has, ironicaly, been given the power he needs to do so by the same man he is comming to arrest.

This DOES NOT absolve the Jedi of plotting a coup, which they were, but what was an illegal arrest and coup one instant becomes a legal aprehension the next.

It does however invalidate Palpatine's later claims of his beliefs being protected by the Constitution. He deemed himself a primary target to ending the war swiftly, and thus by executive order, or the SW equivalent, cast off any protection he might have had, by basically making himself an enemy of the state.

Since the Jedi are not yet part of the military heiarchy of Palpatine's growing power and still only serve at the beheast of the Senate and, as was stated in TPM, the Supreme Chancellor, no official orders were needed. By asking them to intervene he made their actions completely legal and gave them the power needed to follow through, just as Valorum had with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in the TPM when they were sent to Naboo to break the blockade.

[Civil War Man]

So when Mace, once armed with the knowledge that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, goes to arrest him he has, ironicaly, been given the power he needs to do so by the same man he is comming to arrest.

Except it still comes back to Mace making the accusation, but not having any proof. For all he knew, Palpatine could have been a Sith cultist, but still not the Sith Lord he was looking for.

It does however invalidate Palpatine's later claims of his beliefs being protected by the Constitution. He deemed himself a primary target to ending the war swiftly, and thus by executive order, or the SW equivalent, cast off any protection he might have had, by basically making himself an enemy of the state.

Not really. Bin Laden is a Muslim who is considered to be an enemy of the United States. However, that does not invalidate the Constitutional protection afforded to Muslims. If a cop were to burst into a local Muslim's house and accuse him of secretly being Bin Laden, he'd better have some damned good proof of it.

[Havok]

So when Mace, once armed with the knowledge that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, goes to arrest him he has, ironicaly, been given the power he needs to do so by the same man he is comming to arrest.

Except it still comes back to Mace making the accusation, but not having any proof. For all he knew, Palpatine could have been a Sith cultist, but still not the Sith Lord he was looking for.

It does however invalidate Palpatine's later claims of his beliefs being protected by the Constitution. He deemed himself a primary target to ending the war swiftly, and thus by executive order, or the SW equivalent, cast off any protection he might have had, by basically making himself an enemy of the state.

Not really. Bin Laden is a Muslim who is considered to be an enemy of the United States. However, that does not invalidate the Constitutional protection afforded to Muslims. If a cop were to burst into a local Muslim's house and accuse him of secretly being Bin Laden, he'd better have some damned good proof of it.

Mace was taking the word of one of his Jedi Knights, one that happened to be on the Jedi Council, who had been an active investigator in the attempt to track down Sidious. Mace had absolutely no reason not to take Anakin at his word, or to doubt the validity of the accusation, even though he did. Oh and Anakin does say; "The one we've been looking for."

Remember what Mace said in the ROTS: "If what you say is true, then you will have earned my trust." Based on that, one might surmise that Mace was only going to the office to make an arrest and continue the investigation, because he knew he couldn't completely trust Anakin. Also before he hears Anakin's accusation he said: "We are on our way to make sure Palpatine returns his emergency power to the Senate." NOT "We are going to arrest the Chancellor."

The Jedi were going to inform Palpatine of Obi Wan's defeat of Grievous and based on his reactions to that, decide what they were going to do. If Palpatine simply said; "Oh good. I'm going to inform the Senate and restore all my emergency powers to them imegiatly." There wouldn't have been a coup. The Jedi were simply prepared to arrest Palpatine. It wasn't their only course of action UNTIL Anakin told them of his true identity.

So, at the very least, the accusation was enough to warrant the arrest and detention of Palpatine. Remember an arrest is just that. Being arrested doesn't mean you are guilty of what you have been accused of. Palpatine's actions after Mace attempted to arrest him, just confirmed Anakin's accusation. And as Palpatine himself said "do whatever you must to hunt Sidious down." Well once Mace learned that Palpatine may be Sidious, he was doing just that.

Say, for instance, you are a police Captain, and one of your officers says he knows the identity of the serial killer the departmentt has been hunting
for a few years. Are you just going to ignore that? Certainly not. Are you going to tail him and see if he kills again? No. Are you going to go arrest and detain the subject and investigate the accusation? Yes.
This is a similar situation. Kinda "Better to be safe than sorry."

As for your comparison to Bin Laden...
While his beliefs and religion are protected under our constitution, his actions in the name of them are not. The same is true of Sidious.

Sidious was already known to be in league with the Trade Federation, Count Dooku, Darth Maul, Darth Tyranus, General Grievious along with the EU baddies, Dirge, Asai Ventress etc. etc. His actions directly or indirectly had led to the deaths of billions of Republic and Sepratist citizens.

Believeing in the Sith teachings wasn't what he was being arrested for, his actions in their name was. As I said, Palpatine himself declared his alter ego a top priority for the Jedi and gave them the power to do what they must to apprehend him.

[Ghost Rider]

Amazed that Mace was going to arrest and detain a man who LEGALLY aquired his emergancy powers.

So what if General Grievious had fallen, nothing was binding Palpatine except the end of the war, and since...there was still fighting even after that, you tell me who was in the legal right.

Also Havokef you are still using your supposition. Show proof that Mace and gang had any legal recourse to go in, tell Chancellor Palpatine to shove off and release the powers that were voted to him. I am asking for proof, not your personal supposition.

[Publius]

Note that Labyrinth of Evil actually mentions that the Constitution had been amended to extend Palpatine's term of office indefinitely. He was in effect the lawfully-elected Supreme Chancellor for life.

[FTeik]

Julius Caesar was also elected dictator for life.

[Knife]

Julius Caesar was also elected dictator for life.

That's the point. Palpatine subverted the Republic using it's own rules. As far as the letter of the law goes, he did it legally and became the Emperor all fair and square.

[Havok]

Amazed that Mace was going to arrest and detain a man who LEGALLY aquired his emergancy powers.

So what if General Grievious had fallen, nothing was binding Palpatine except the end of the war, and since...there was still fighting even after that, you tell me who was in the legal right.

Also Havokef you are still using your supposition. Show proof that Mace and gang had any legal recourse to go in, tell Chancellor Palpatine to shove off and release the powers that were voted to him. I am asking for proof, not your personal supposition.

Palpatine, being the, as Publius put it, "lawfully elected Supreme Chancellor for life". gave Mace the power and legal recourse to go in when he told him and Yoda; "Do whatever you must to hunt Sidious down."

From the time that Anakin told Mace that Palpatine was Sidious, Mace was no longer going to just inform him of Grievious's defeat and hope that he end the war and return his emergency powers. He was going to arrest the Sith Lord whom the Jedi as well as Palpatine, believed to be behind the entire war in the first place.

That is the proof that what they were doing was legally. The Supreme Chancellor told the Jedi to do whatever was neccisary to hunt Sidious down. Like I said before, it is ironic, that he made the Jedi's actions and his own arrest legal.

Also about Grievous being defeated. I believe that Palpatine expressed that the war would end if he was destroyed. I'm at work so I don't have exact quotes.

Also keep in mind, that I am NOT saying that the Jedi going to arrest Palpatine as the Supreme Chancellor is legall, because it is NOT. I am saying that the Jedi going into arrest Palpatine as Sidious IS legall.