The Seven Sovereign Judges
Council
The ruling councilmen of Afton who act as sovereign judges, holding absolute power over life and death in the territory by deciding fates through a simple majority vote.
Council summary
The seven sovereign judges, comprising Baba, Castro, Inyo, Joshua, Miel, Mofi, and Victor Buholo, serve as the ultimate legal authority in the traditional territory of Afton.
They operate under the ancient Afton Code, presiding over public trials from an elevated wooden platform in the central village square.
In their justice system, there are no impartial juries; the fates of the accused are decided entirely by the councilmen, where a simple majority of four votes is required to pass the absolute penalty of death by guillotine.
The judges presided over the highly publicized trial of Kian Buholo and Mikael Kabadu, who were accused of homosexuality, which is classified as a capital offense in the region.
During the proceedings, Councilman Victor Buholo intervened to save his own son, utilizing a legal loophole in Article 42 of the Afton Code to spare Kian because he had not yet reached his eighteenth birthday.
However, because Mikael had just turned eighteen, the judges proceeded to cast their votes to determine his fate.
Councilmen Baba, Inyo, and Miel voted against the execution, attempting to show mercy to the young musician.
Councilmen Castro, Joshua, and Mofi voted in favor of the execution, tying the decision at three votes each.
Councilman Victor Buholo cast the final, deciding vote for death, establishing a four to three ruling that sealed Mikael's tragic execution.