Supreme Court of Justice (Portugal)

Summary

The Supreme Court of Justice (Portuguese: Supremo Tribunal de Justiça, pronounced [suˈpɾemu tɾiβuˈnal ʒuʃˈtisɐ], STJ) is the highest court of law in Portugal without prejudice to the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court.

Supreme Court of Justice
Supremo Tribunal de Justiça
Praça do Comércio, Lisbon,
seat of the Supreme Court of Justice
Map
Established1822
LocationLisbon
Composition method60 judges appointed on selection, 4 military judges appointed on proposal by the Military Staff
Authorized byPortuguese Constitution
Appeals toConstitutional Court, on matters of constitutionality
Appeals fromCourts of Appeal and First Instance Courts
Judge term lengthAppointed for life until retired
Number of positions64
Websitewww.stj.pt
President of the Supreme Court of Justice
CurrentlyHenrique Luís de Brito de Araújo
Since18 May 2021[1]
Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Justice
CurrentlyMaria dos Prazeres Pizarro Beleza
Since25 October 2018
Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Justice
CurrentlyNuno António Gonçalves
Since16 September 2021

The judges of the STJ are referred to as "counselors" (conselheiros). Its president is elected by and from among the judges of the court.

The STJ is installed in the buildings of the northern wing of the Terreiro do Paço square in Lisbon.

Competences edit

The competences of the Supreme Court of Justice are the following:

History edit

The Supreme Court of Justice was created by the Constitution of 1822 and installed eleven years after,[2] in the scope of the separation of the judicial power from the others, dictated by the establishment of the Portuguese Constitutional Monarchy.

The STJ replaced the ancient higher courts of the kingdom, namely the Board of Conscience and Orders (Mesa da Consciência e Ordens) created in 1532, the Desembargo of the Palace (Desembargo do Paço) regulated in 1533 and the Council of State (Conselho de Estado) regulated in 1562. The judges of the STJ inherited the title of "counselors" until then worn by the members of the Board of Conscience and Orders and of the Council of State.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Declaração n.º 48/2021" (PDF). Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda, S.A. - Diário da República n.º 101/2021, Série I, de 25 de maio. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ "História do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça (in Portuguese)". Retrieved 16 September 2023.

External links edit

  • Official website(in Portuguese)