Aaron Satie

Judge Aaron Satie was perhaps the most famous judge in Starfleet history. As the father of Starfleet Rear Admiral Norah Satie, he taught her to avoid partnerships as most of them are woefully lopsided.

As Norah and her older brothers grew up, Judge Satie would pose a question for debate every night at the dinner table and let his children wrangle it around, from one side to the other. Judge Satie would referee, using a stopwatch so that they would learn brevity. He refused to let them leave until he thought they had completely explored the issue. He especially loved it when Norah nailed one of her brothers on some subtle point of logic.

As one of the leading advocates of civil liberties, his judicial decisions were required reading at Starfleet Academy. After his death, Satie's name would continue to live on, standing for principle and integrity. He had died by 2367.

An example of Judge Satie's words of wisdom and warning, dating to the early 24th century, was:
 * "With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured...the first thought forbidden...the first freedom denied – chains us all, irrevocably."

Jean-Luc Picard quoted this phrase during a drumhead trial held by Satie's daughter aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) in 2367, in order to point out her flagrant abuse of her authority. Fortunately for Aaron Satie's principles, if not his family, Norah Satie began to rave hatefully about being insulted, and she threatened Picard. Her impulsive tirade disgusted the attending active-duty flag officer, Vice Admiral Thomas Henry, to the point of his suspending the hearings and removing Satie from power. 

Aaron Satie