Number of levels of adjudication
Andorra
Information sheet The Higher Council of Justice:
I. Dutyand composition
TheAndorran Magistracy (Batllia) is the jurisdiction of first instance andinstruction in all jurisdictional ambits. It is structured in civil, penal,administrative and special instruction sections.
The Magistracy and the Magistrates (Batlles), whether sitting as a singleperson court or in collegiate composition, in accordance with the provisions ofthe Qualified Law of Justice and the Laws of Procedure, are competent to judgein the first instance all contentious affairs, except cases, in criminalmatters, of major offences.
The Magistrates examine criminal affairs individually; they can also sit as asingle person Court (1 Magistrate alone) for voluntary jurisdiction. Incriminal matters, criminal contraventions are judged by a single Magistrate andminor offences are judged by a Magistrates' Court.
In civil matters, proceedings of minimum quantity or summary cases, that is,not exceeding 12,000 euro, are heard by a single Magistrate and those ofindeterminate quantity or when the amount is over 12,000 euro are heard in aMagistrates' Court.
In administrative matters, affairs related to contentious matters of SocialSecurity are heard by a single Magistrate and all other questions in thisjurisdictional ambit come before a collegiate court.
This jurisdiction is composed by an assembly of Magistrates of no less than 8,with their President.
I. Dutyand composition
The High Court (Tribunal Superior) constitutes the highest instance of thejudicial organisation of the Principality. It is competent to hear all the appeals lodged againstlegal decisions adopted in the first instance by the Andorran Magistracy, incivil and administrative matters, within the limits fixed by the law and, incriminal matters, by the Criminal Court.
It is structured in three chambers, for civil affairs, criminal cases, andmatters of judicial review and social security.
The High Court consists of a President and eight Judges. Each of the chambersin session is presided over by three Judges.
The President of the Court is also President of one of the three chambers.
The Higher Council of Justice,
