High Court of Justice of Catalonia
The High Court of Justice of Catalonia is the highest body and last judicial instance of the Spanish judiciary in Catalonia. Unlike the Parliament of Catalonia or the Executive Council of Catalonia, the TSJC is not a part of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the autonomous system of self-government of the community, although the Catalan government has some powers over it, especially in material resources.
The TSJC regulates the functions of the judges and looks over the different provincial courts. The TSJC is the final appellate court in Catalan territory, notwithstanding the right of a citizen to appeal to the Spanish Supreme Court and/or the European Court of Justice.
The TSJC was created on 23 May 1989 with the Organic Law of Judicial Authority, as part of the process of devolution to Catalonia from the Spanish government, started in 1979. Its headquarters are located at the Palau de Justícia, Barcelona.Composition
Organization
The High Court of Justice of consists of three courts, although a fourth, for Minors, has been proposed.
- Civil and Penal : Five magistrates, including the President of the Tribunal.
- Contentious-Administrative : Fourteen magistrates, distributed in four sections.
- Social : Sixteen magistrates, distributed in four sections.
President
Appointment process
Candidates need to obtain a three fifths supermajority of the 21 votes of the General Council of Judicial Authority.Presidents