Jedi High Council (New Jedi Order)

—Link title

"As Jedi, either we're players in GA politics, or we're another instrument of the elected leadership, like the fleet. If we're the latter, then we might have our opinions, but we do as the legitimate leadership directs. If we're not, then we've got no more right to start interfering with the status quo than the Monster Raving Anarchist Party."

- Kyp Durron

The Masters' Council was the leading body of the New Jedi Order by 35 ABY, consisting of the Order's Jedi Masters. The Masters' Council should not be confused with the High Council of the Galactic Alliance: the former was a body of Jedi Masters autonomous from the Alliance government responsible for the leadership of the Order, while the latter was an advisory body to the Alliance Chief of State consisting of six Jedi and six non-Jedi, which ensured coordination between the Jedi and the Alliance government. The Masters' Council made all final decisions for the New Jedi Order and its members, but the Jedi on the High Council had no direct control over the Alliance government, and vice versa. When the Masters' Council again became the Jedi High Council, it consisted of twelve Jedi Masters.

Masters' Council
The Masters' Council, which had at least twelve members, met in the Council chambers within the Jedi Praxeum on Ossus. Occasionally they would also convene within a conference chamber in the New Jedi Temple. How much control the Council had over the Knights of the Order was a matter of debate. Some Masters, such as Mara Jade Skywalker, believed that Jedi Knights should be compelled to comply with the Council, but Luke Skywalker insisted compliance should be voluntary, arguing that the council would be failing the Order if the other Jedi were not willing to listen to its requests.

It is known that during the Dark Nest Crisis there were at least twelve members on the council. Cilghal was automatic because of her skill as a healer. Kyp Durron, although he had been troublesome in the past, had been selected to offer a different perspective on the Council and Kenth Hamner was a skilled tactician. Corran Horn, Kyle Katarn, and Tresina Lobi were all strong in the Force and Saba Sebatyne had done a great amount for the Order during the War. Luke Skywalker was joined by his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker, and Kam Solusar and Tionne Solusar were needed because of their connections to the Ossus Academy. Octa Ramis would also be chosen to receive a seat.

The relationship between the Masters' Council and the Alliance government was often tense, and a matter of contention within the Council. Some Masters, such as Corran Horn and Kenth Hamner (and possibly Kyle Katarn), believed the Order was primarily responsible to serve the needs of the Alliance, which had funded the Order during the period of reconstruction following the Yuuzhan Vong War and even built the New Jedi Temple. Others, including Mara Jade Skywalker and Kyp Durron, believed that giving preference to the Alliance's interest made the Jedi nothing more than mercenaries, and that the Jedi should preserve peace without favoritism, even at the expense of the Alliance. Despite their official stance, the Galactic Alliance bureaucracy came to see the Jedi as their own private diplomatic corps and police force. Both sides were convinced that they were in the right, with some arguments coming close to being decided at saber-point, and it was only Master Skywalker's moral authority that kept the Council from splitting violently.

In 35 ABY, UnuThul sent two Jedi, whom he had converted to be Joiners with the Colony, to persuade the Masters' Council to assist the Killiks in a border conflict with the Chiss Ascendancy. The Council uncovered the existence of the Dark Nest, Gorog, which was manipulating the conflict without the knowledge of UnuThul and the rest of the Colony. Cilghal, the Jedi Master-healer, used medical experiments to reveal the true nature of the Dark Nest, which was analogous to the Colony's subconscious mind. Luke, Mara, and Saba Sebatyne were sent to reveal and destroy Gorog. They accomplished the former goal, and seemingly the latter, resolving the conflict with the help of Leia Organa Solo and a number of young Jedi Knights.

Jedi High Council
Following the end of the Swarm War, Luke decided to form a more formal, authoritative Jedi Council that would meet in a chamber identical to that of which the old Order met in, once again referred to as the Jedi High Council. The High Council Chambers on Coruscant were reconstructed in reverence to the original Temple, though gaudy drapes had originally been installed but quickly removed by Master Skywalker. This formalized Council consisted of twelve members whom sat in exact replicas of the stone seats such luminaries such as Mace Windu and Yoda sat upon. As a member Mara Jade Skywalker also served as secretary of the council.

With the formation of the new Council Luke Skywalker continued to serve along with all other members besides the Solusars, who may or may have not continued to sit on the august body. With the deaths of two of their number, it is unknown who replaced the deceased Masters Jade Skywalker and Lobi.

Long after Luke Skywalker became one with the Force, the council continued to preside over the Order’s affairs with Kol Skywalker at its head.

Appearances

 * Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Bloodlines
 * Tempest
 * Exile
 * Sacrifice
 * Inferno
 * Revelation