The CIA World Factbook Edition 1998 Government
Judicial branch In 36 editions of 36.
Judicial branch was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 1998 edition carries it in 231 entries, in its Government section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
- entries in the 1998 edition
- 231
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Judicial branch” (1990 to 2025).
the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Judicial branch, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.
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Entries with Judicial branch in each edition
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Africa
56 entriesAngola
Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Benin
- Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle,
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme,
- High Court of Justice
Central African Republic
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme,
- judges appointed by the president;
- Constitutional Court,
- judges appointed by the president
Comoros
Supreme Court or Cour Supremes, two members are appointed by the president, two members are elected by the Federal Assembly, one by the Council of each island, and former presidents of the republic
Swaziland now Eswatini
- High Court,
- judges are appointed by the king;
- Court of Appeal,
- judges are appointed by the king
Gabon
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers-Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts;
- Constitutional Court;
- Courts of Appeal;
- Court of State Security;
- County Courts
Guinea-Bissau
- Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica, consists of 9 justices who are appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure, final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases;
- Regional Courts, supposed to be one in each of nine regions, first court of appeals for sectoral court decisions, hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000;
- Sectoral Courts, supposed to be 24 of them, judges are not necessarily trained lawyers, hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases
Lesotho
- High Court, Chief Justice appointed by the king;
- Court of Appeal;
- Magistrate's Court;
- customary or traditional court
Malawi
- Supreme Court of Appeal;
- High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission);
- magistrate's courts
Morocco
Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the king
Nigeria
- Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council;
- Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee
Rwanda
Constitutional Court, consists of the Court of Cassation and the Council of State in joint session
Senegal
- under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows;
- Constitutional Court;
- Council of State;
- Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation;
- Court of Appeals
Seychelles
- Court of Appeal,
- judges are appointed by the president;
- Supreme Court,
- judges are appointed by the president
Somalia
(not functioning); note-following the breakdown of national government, most regions have reverted to Islamic law with a provision for appeal of all sentences
Uganda
- Court of Appeal,
- judges are appointed by the president;
- High Court,
- judges are appointed by the president
Arctic Region
2 entriesAsia
22 entriesAfghanistan
non-functioning as of March 1995, although there are local Shari'a (Islamic law) courts throughout the country
Georgia
Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court
India
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65
Japan
Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the emperor after designation by the cabinet, all other justices are appointed by the cabinet
Korea, South now South Korea
Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president subject to the consent of the National Assembly
Kyrgyzstan
- Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year term by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president;
- Constitutional Court;
- Higher Court of Arbitration
Mongolia
Supreme Court, serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but to date rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts, judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the Great Hural
Nepal
Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Judicial Council
Pakistan
Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court
Russia
- Constitutional Court, judges are appointed for life by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president;
- Supreme Court, judges are appointed for life by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president;
- Superior Court of Arbitration, judges are appointed for life by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president
Uzbekistan
Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Central America and the Caribbean
31 entriesAntigua and Barbuda
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia), one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Barbados
Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service
Belize
Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
British Virgin Islands
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court
Costa Rica
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly
Cuba
People's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo Popular), president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly
Dominica
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Dominican Republic
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding
Guadeloupe
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Guatemala
- Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia);
- additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the President of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a five-year term by Congress
Honduras
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National Assembly
Montserrat
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court
Nicaragua
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for a seven-year term by the National Assembly
Panama
- Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), nine judges appointed for 10-year terms;
- five superior courts;
- three courts of appeal
Puerto Rico
- Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate;
- Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate;
- Municipal Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts
Saint Lucia
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia); one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent
Trinidad and Tobago
- Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister;
- Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Virgin Islands
- US District Court, handles civil matters over $200,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases;
- judges are appointed by the president;
- Territorial Court, handles civil matters of unlimited cash amount;
- felonies, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases;
- judges appointed by the governor
Europe
46 entriesAlbania
Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term
Andorra
- Supreme Court of Andorra at Perpignan (France) two civil judges appointed by the veguers, one appeals judge appointed by the coprinces alternately;
- Ecclesiastical Court of the Bishop of Seo de Urgel (Spain);
- Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal des Cortes presided over by the two civil judges, one appeals judge, the veguers, and two members of the General Council
Austria
- Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;
- Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof;
- Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof
Belarus
- Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president;
- Constitutional Court, half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives
Belgium
- Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish,
- Cour de Cassation in French,
- judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Supreme Court,
- supervised by the Ministry of Justice;
- Constitutional Court,
- supervised by the Ministry of Justice
Bulgaria
Supreme Court, chairman appointed for a seven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justices appointed or elected for a nine-year term
Croatia
- Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives;
- Constitutional Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives
Czech Republic now Czechia
- Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life;
- Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for life
France
- Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary;
- Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate;
- Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Germany
Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat
Greece
- Supreme Judicial Court, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council;
- Special Supreme Tribunal, judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council
Ireland
Supreme Court, judges appointed by the president on the advice of the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Man, Isle of now Isle of Man
High Court of Justice, justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor
Italy
Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale, composed of 15 judges (one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by Parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative supreme courts)
Lithuania
- Supreme Court,
- judges appointed by the Parliament;
- Court of Appeal,
- judges appointed by the Parliament
Luxembourg
- Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure de Justice, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke;
- Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke
Malta
- Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister;
- Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Monaco
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme, judges named by the prince on the basis of nominations by the National Council
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of now North Macedonia
- Constitutional Court,
- judges are elected by the Judicial Council;
- Judicial Court of the Republic,
- judges are elected by the Judicial Council
Poland
- Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period;
- Constitutional Tribunal, judges are chosen by the Sejm for a 9-year term
Portugal
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica, judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Romania
Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the president on recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates
Serbia and Montenegro
- Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for a nine-year term;
- Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for a nine-year term
Slovenia
- Supreme Court, judges are elected by the National Assembly on recommendation of the Judicial Council;
- Constitutional Court, judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president
Sweden
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
United Kingdom
House of Lords, several Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life
Middle East
15 entriesCyprus
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area
Lebanon
- four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases);
- Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord-rules on constitutionality of laws);
- Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)
Syria
- Supreme Constitutional Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president;
- High Judicial Council;
- Court of Cassation;
- State Security Courts
Turkey now Turkiye
Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors
North America
5 entriesMexico
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate
United States
Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate
Oceania
25 entriesAmerican Samoa
High Court, chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior
Australia
High Court, the Chief Justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general
French Polynesia
- Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel;
- Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
- Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Guam
- Federal District Court,
- judge is appointed by the president;
- Territorial Superior Court,
- judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor
Kiribati
- Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president;
- High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president;
- 26 Magistrates' courts judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Papua New Guinea
Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
Pitcairn Islands
Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years
Tonga
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king; Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court sits as the Court of Appeal
Tuvalu
- eight Island Courts;
- High Court;
- note-a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over sessions of the High Court
Vanuatu
Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
Wallis and Futuna
none; justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
South America
14 entriesArgentina
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval of the Senate
Brazil
Supreme Federal Tribunal, 11 judges are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate
Chile
- Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself;
- the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court
Colombia
- Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
- Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
- Constitutional Court, guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution, rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties
French Guiana
Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Paraguay
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)
Peru
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary
Uruguay
Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly
Venezuela
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session for a nine-year term, a third are re-elected every three years
Southeast Asia
15 entriesBurma now Burma (Myanmar)
- limited;
- remnants of the British-era legal system in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial;
- the judiciary is not independent of the executive
Cambodia
Supreme Council of the Magistracy, provided for in the constitution, was formed in December 1997
Laos
People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Macau
Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor
Philippines
Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council
Singapore
Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; Court of Appeals
Vietnam
Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 1998, “Judicial branch”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/judicial-branch/1998.