1816 (Military and Judicial Control): The French decree of the year XI specified that the Captain-General had the power to suspend any judge or commissary of…
1816 (Military and Judicial Control): The French decree of the year XI specified that the Captain-General had the power to suspend any judge or commissary of justice upon the recommendation of the Commissary of Justice. He was also authorized to provisionally fill vacancies in the courts, provided he notified the French government of these changes. Additionally, the Captain-General acted as the supreme military commander, with all land and sea forces in the colony placed under his direct orders. He was even given the authority to pardon or commute sentences for individuals condemned by colonial military or criminal courts. This centralized power over the military and the judiciary was a hallmark of the colonial administration that the Haytian people eventually overthrew.