Extraordinary court

Last updated
Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia is contemporary example of extraordinary court Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia - 3 February 2012.jpg
Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia is contemporary example of extraordinary court

An extraordinary court, or special court, is a type of court that is established outside of ordinary judiciary, composed of irregularly selected judges or applies irregular procedure for judgment. Since extraordinary court can be abused to infringe fundamental rights of individuals, contemporaly most of countries ban such courts by constitution or statutes. Usually, modern military courts judged by court-martials are regarded as examples of extraordinary courts. [1]

Contents

By country

Cambodia

An extraordinary court is the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, which is basically a chamber in the national court of Cambodia that is specially designed to judge crimes of the Khmer Rouge such as the Cambodian genocide, but its judges are not of the ordinary Cambodian judiciary but are selected among international candidates nominated by Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to an agreement between United Nations and the Cambodian government. [2]

Germany

In modern Germany, the establishment of extraordinary courts ( German : Ausnahmegerichte) is strictly prohibited by article 101(1) of the Constitution of Germany, [3] in reflection of judicial murder by People's Court ( German : Volksgerichtshof), which was a kind of German : Sondergericht that was established during Nazi Germany. The term German : Sondergericht itself means just the concept of 'special court', but the use of that term is discouraged, as it can referred to legacy of Nazis, That causes contemporary courts in Germany with special jurisdiction (such as 'Federal Social Court' on cases of social security matters) to be called a kind of 'specialized court' ( German : Fachgerichte), composed of ordinary judges.

In that way, Article 101(1) of the Constitution is explained as forbidding establishment of both extraordinary court and special courtas, which are substantially the same concept. [4] As the Constitution bans judgments by irregularly-composed judges, courts in the City of Kempten with special jurisdiction on military justice in Germany are also constituted by ordinary judges, according to Section 11a of German Criminal Code. [5]

South Korea

In contemporary South Korea, the establishment of special courts ( Korean : 특별법원), meaning extraordinary courts ( Korean : 예외법원) is exceptionally allowed only for a military court, according to Article 110(1) of the Constitution of South Korea. [6] It is notable that Justices at the Constitutional Court must have qualification as judges, which includes Justices in the Supreme Court of Korea, in ordinary courts, but Article 111(2) of the Constitution does not rerquire military judges in the Military Court of Korea to have competence as ordinary court judges by 110(3) of the Constitution. [6] The Constitutional Court of Korea explains that constitutional difference of qualification among ordinary court judges (including Supreme Court Justices), military judges and Constitutional Court Justices as constitutional grounds for non-qualified senior military officers to participate in military court judgments as adjudicators ( Korean : 심판관), together with qualified military judges ( Korean : 군판사) in exceptional cases, [7] according to article 22(3) of the Military Court Act. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impeachment</span> The Process for charging a public official with legal offenses by the legislature(s)

Impeachment is a process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements.

The judiciary of Germany is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judicial Yuan</span> Judicial branch of Taiwan

The Judicial Yuan is the judicial branch of the government of Taiwan. It runs a Constitutional Court and oversees all systems of courts of Taiwan, including ordinary courts like the supreme court, high courts, district courts as well as special courts like administrative courts and disciplinary courts. By Taiwanese law, the Judicial Yuan holds the following powers:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Court of Justice</span> Highest court in the system of ordinary jurisdiction in Germany

The Federal Court of Justice is the highest court of civil and criminal jurisdiction in Germany. Its primary responsibility is the final appellate review of decisions by lower courts for errors of law. While, legally, a decision by the Federal Court of Justice is only binding with respect to the individual case in which it enters, de facto the court's interpretation of the law is followed by lower courts with almost no exception. Decisions handed down by the Federal Court of Justice can only be vacated by the Federal Constitutional Court for violating a provision of the German constitution, the Basic Law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Ministry of Justice (Germany)</span> Federal ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany

The Federal Ministry of Justice, abbreviated BMJ, is a cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. Under the German federal system, individual States are most responsible for the administration of justice and the application of penalties. The Federal Ministry of Justice devotes itself to creating and changing law in the classic core areas related to Constitutional law. The Ministry also analyzes the legality and constitutionality of laws prepared by other ministries. The German Federal Court of Justice, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (GPTO), and the German Patent Court all fall under its scope, including affairs on court administration. The ministry is officially located in Berlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of South Korea</span>

The Constitution of the Republic of Korea is the supreme law of South Korea. It was promulgated on July 17, 1948, and last revised on October 29, 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Law of Brazil</span> Law system of Brazil

The law of Brazil is based on statutes and, partly and more recently, a mechanism called súmulas vinculantes. It derives mainly from the European civil law systems, particularly the Portuguese, the Napoleonic French and the German.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Court of Korea</span> Highest constitutional court of South Korea

The Constitutional Court of Korea is one of the highest courts—along with the Supreme Court—in South Korea's judiciary that exercises constitutional review, seated in Jongno, Seoul. The South Korean Constitution vests judicial power in courts composed of judges, which establishes the ordinary-court system, but also separates an independent constitutional court and grants it exclusive jurisdiction over matters of constitutionality. Specifically, Chapter VI Article 111(1) of the South Korean Constitution specifies the following cases to be exclusively reviewed by the Constitutional Court:

  1. The constitutionality of a law upon the request of the courts;
  2. Impeachment;
  3. Dissolution of a political party;
  4. Competence disputes between State agencies, between State agencies and local governments, and between local governments; and
  5. Constitutional complaints as prescribed by [the Constitutional Court] Act.
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Korea</span> Highest ordinary court of South Korea

The Supreme Court of Korea is the highest ordinary court in the judicial branch of South Korea, seated in Seocho, Seoul. Established under Chapter 5 of the Constitution of South Korea, the Court has ultimate and comprehensive jurisdiction over all cases except those cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court of Korea. It consists of fourteen Justices, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. The Supreme Court is at the top of the hierarchy of all ordinary courts in South Korea, and traditionally represented the conventional judiciary of South Korea. The Supreme Court has equivalent status as one of the two highest courts in South Korea. The other is the Constitutional Court of Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea</span> Head of South Korean highest ordinary court

The chief justice of the Supreme Court of Korea is the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. As presiding judge of the grand bench composed of two-thirds of fourteen Supreme Court justices, the chief represents the Supreme Court of Korea. The chief justice is regarded as one of two equivalent heads of judicial branch in Government of South Korea. Another head is the president of the Constitutional Court of Korea. The current chief justice of the Supreme Court of Korea is vacant and Supreme Court Justice Ahn Chul-sang is acting as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme court</span> Highest court in a jurisdiction

In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, and highcourt of appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court are binding on all other courts in a nation and are not subject to further review by any other court. Supreme courts typically function primarily as appellate courts, hearing appeals from decisions of lower trial courts, or from intermediate-level appellate courts. A Supreme Court can also, in certain circumstances, act as a court of original jurisdiction, however, this is typically limited to constitutional law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Spain</span> Highest court in Spain

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the Kingdom of Spain. Originally established pursuant to Title V of the Constitution of 1812 to replace —in all matters that affected justice— the System of Councils, and currently regulated by Title VI of the Constitution of 1978, it has original jurisdiction over cases against high-ranking officials of the Kingdom and over cases regarding illegalization of political parties. It also has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all cases. The Court has the power of judicial review, except for the judicial revision on constitutional matters, reserved to the Constitutional Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judiciary of Brazil</span> Public entities designated by the Brazilian constitution

The Judiciary of Brazil is the group of public entities designated by the Brazilian constitution to carry out the country's judicial functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Justice (Austria)</span> Government ministry of Austria

The Ministry of Justice is the government ministry of Austria responsible for the administration of justice. The ministry exercises administrative supervision and is charged with the compensation of the judiciary and the prosecutors, manages their office buildings and facilities, and administers the prison system.

The Judiciary of Azerbaijan exercises judicial power in Azerbaijan. Although the Azerbaijan constitution nominally guarantees judicial independence, the executive firmly controls prosecutors and judges. Judges and prosecutors collaborate in Azerbaijan to repress political opponents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Cambodia</span> Highest court of Cambodia

The Supreme Court of Cambodia is the highest Court in the judiciary of Cambodia, under the supervision of the Supreme Council of the Magistrature. It is located in the royal capital of Phnom Penh, and is regulated under Article 55 to Article 73 of the 2014 Cambodian Law on Court Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judiciary of South Korea</span> Judicial branch of the Republic of Korea

The judiciary of South Korea is the judicial branch of South Korean central government, established by Chapter 5 and 6 of the Constitution of South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of the Constitutional Court of Korea</span> Head of South Korean constitutional court

The President of the Constitutional Court of Korea is the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of Korea. As presiding judge of Full bench composed of nine Justices, the President represents the Constitutional Court of Korea.

Rapporteur Judge or Rapporteur-Judge is a term for number of judicial officials similar to judicial assistant at highest court, usually functioning as rapporteur while having status equivalent to lower ordinary court judges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordinary court</span> Court with comprehensive jurisdiction

Ordinary court or judicial court is a type of court with comprehensive subject-matter jurisdiction compared to 'specialized court' with limited jurisdiction over specific filed of matters, such as intellectual property court. Due to its comprehensive feature, ordinary courts usually deal with civil case and criminal case, and treated as core part of conventional judiciary. Especially for common law countries, the term superior court is used for courts with general jurisdiction, compared to courts with limited jurisdiction over minor, petty cases such as small claims court.

References

  1. For example, see "Weissbrodt, D., & Hansen, J. (2013). The Right to a Fair Trial in an Extraordinary Court. In F. Aoláin & O. Gross (Eds.), Guantánamo and Beyond: Exceptional Courts and Military Commissions in Comparative Perspective (pp. 305-310)". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  2. "Jarvis, H. (2016). Trials and Tribulations: The Long Quest for Justice for the Cambodian Genocide. In: Meisenberg, S., Stegmiller, I. (eds) The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. International Criminal Justice Series, vol 6. (pp.21-25)". T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  3. "Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (officially translated into English)". Bundesministerium der Justiz. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  4. "Thiedemann, H. (2003). The "Lawful Judge" - a Comparative Survey on the Allocation of Cases to Judges in South Africa and Germany. Verfassung Und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America, 36(2), 230–232" . Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  5. "German Code of Criminal Procedure (officially translated into English)". Bundesministerium der Justiz. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  6. 1 2 "Constitution of the Republic of Korea". Korea Legislation Research Institute, Korea Law Translation Center. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  7. "Constitutional Court decision, October 31, 1996" (in Korean). Ministry of Government Legislation, Korean Law Information Center. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  8. "Military Court Act". Korea Legislation Research Institute, Korea Law Translation Center. Retrieved 2022-05-21.