Justicars' Brigade
The Justicars' Brigade, also referred to as the Justicars, functioned as a militia situated within Coruscant's Underworld during the era of the Cold War. Following the devastating Sacking of Coruscant, the Galactic Republic, facing resource constraints, withdrew the Coruscant Security Forces, leaving the lower levels exposed to the predations of armed gangs. Enraged by the escalating violence inflicted by these gangs, former Republic soldiers banded together, forming a militia known as the Justicars, with the objective of forcefully re-establishing order.
History
In the wake of the Sacking of Coruscant, criminal organizations, including Black Sun, exploited the chaos on Coruscant to seize control of the planet's lower levels. Overwhelmed by limited resources, the Galactic Republic could not effectively combat this takeover, leading to the withdrawal of the Coruscant Security Force (CSF) to safeguard more critical sectors. As a direct response, a collective of ex-soldiers established the Justicars' Brigade, a militia later known simply as the Justicars. Their mission was to defend their homes and reclaim their neighborhoods. As Black Sun retaliated, the Justicars implemented increasingly severe measures to regain control, imposing curfews and eventually declaring martial law. The territory they controlled became known as the Justicars' Sector, and an old CSF facility was repurposed as their headquarters, renamed the Justicars' Tower. Armed security patrols were authorized to employ lethal force against individuals lacking the clearances defined by the Justicars.
The Justicar forces persisted in their efforts to reclaim areas of Coruscant, acting as a self-appointed security force. However, their methods led to unpopularity among some citizens within their territory. While some viewed them as legitimate law enforcement, others saw little difference between their behavior and that of the gangs they opposed. Larin Moxla, a former Republic trooper residing in the lower levels, disapproved of their methods, considering them bloodthirsty and lawless. Initially welcoming the militia and eager to collaborate, the CSF soon found itself ousted from the territory, along with the gangs. The Coruscant government deemed the Justicars a threat, resulting in a complete cessation of communication with outsiders. The entrance to their territory was heavily guarded, with access restricted to those possessing proper clearances. Justicar security officers routinely conducted checks and apprehended individuals at the taxi speeder station just outside the gate, with minimal interference from the few CSF officers assigned to the area.
Membership in the Justicars was not always voluntary. Ordinary citizens caught violating laws, such as curfew, within their territory were sometimes forced into indentured service within the Justicar fighting forces. The Justicars either lacked the resources or simply neglected to verify whether a citizen was a legal adult before conscripting them, relying solely on their apparent physical maturity.
Toward the end of the Cold War, the Justicars began engaging in arms and equipment deals with the Sith Empire, with prominent members like Lars Baddeg and former Havoc Squad commander Jek Kardan directly assisting Imperial operations on Coruscant.
Behind the scenes
The Justicars were conceived for Star Wars: The Old Republic, a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game created by BioWare and launched on December 20, 2011. Their initial appearance was in The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance, a novel penned by Sean Williams, released on July 20, 2010.