The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Europe
Judicial branch Belgium, in 36 editions.
The entry for Belgium published Judicial branch in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 20 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 20
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Judicial branch” (1990 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Same as 2024- Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish--Hof van Cassatie, French--Cour de Cassation) Chief of State--King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951);
- Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934);
- Head of Government--Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS, (since April 1979, with a 10-month interruption in 1981)
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish--Hof van Cassatie, French--Cour de Cassation) Chief of State--King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934); Head of Government--Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS, (since April 1979, with a 10-month interruption in 1981)
- Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish--Hof van Cassatie, French--Cour de Cassation) Chief of State--King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951);
- Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934);
- Head of Government--Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS, (since April 1979, with a 10-month interruption in 1981) Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman van ROMPUY, president;
- Walloon Social Christian (PSC), Gerard DEPREZ, president;
- Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president;
- Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS, president;
- Flemish Liberal (PVV), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president;
- Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president;
- Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president;
- Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president;
- Communist Party (PCB), Louis van GEYT, president;
- Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN;
- other minor parties
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish--Hof van Cassatie, French--Cour de Cassation) Chief of State--King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934); Head of Government--Prime Minister Wilfried MARTENS, (since April 1979, with a 10-month interruption in 1981) Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman van ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social Christian (PSC), Gerard DEPREZ, president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), Guy SPITAELS, president; Flemish Liberal (PVV), Guy VERHOFSTADT, president; Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis van GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN; other minor parties
The same text in 3 editions, 1992 to 1994.
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation)
Rewritten: too little of the 1991 text remains to mark the changes.
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de
Cassation)
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation)
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie,
French - Cour de
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation), judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie,
Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation) Cassation), judges are appointed for life
by the Belgian monarch
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish,
- Cour de Cassation in French,
- judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - or Hof van Cassatie inCassatie, French - Flemish, Cour de Cassation), Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life
the Belgian monarch
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish,
- Cour de Cassation in French,
- judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in
Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by
by the Belgian monarch
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch,
- Cour de Cassation in French,
- judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in
Flemish,
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch)
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch, (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation in French, judges (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch monarch)
The same text in 2002 and 2003.
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch, although selected by the Government)
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch) monarch, although selected by the Government)
The same text in 2004 and 2005.
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch, although selected Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the Government) High Justice Council)
The same text in 5 editions, 2006 to 2010.
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the Government; government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
- Constitutional Court (previously Court of Arbitration) (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
Constitutional Court (previously Court of Arbitration) (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
- Constitutional Court (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
Constitutional Court (previously Court of Arbitration) (12 judges, 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking, appointed by the King); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
- highest court(s):
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
highest court(s):
Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office:
Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts:
Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
- highest court(s):
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
highest court(s):
judge selection and term of office:
subordinate courts:
- highest court(s):
- highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
highest court(s): highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
- highest court(s):
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
highest court(s): highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch and Cour constitutionelle in French (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch and Cour de Cassation in French (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
- highest courts:
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
highest court(s): courts: Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof in Dutch (in Dutch) and Cour constitutionelle in French (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Dutch (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation in French (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
The same text in 3 editions, 2019 to 2021.
- highest courts:
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
highest courts: Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour constitutionelle Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
The same text in 4 editions, 2022 to 2025.
- highest court(s):
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking);
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament;
- judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70;
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members;
- judges appointed for life
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal;
- regional courts;
- specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues;
- magistrate's courts;
- justices of the peace
highest courts: court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Belgium: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/belgium/judicial-branch.