Judicial System of Peru
Encyclopedia
The Judicial System of Peru, usually known as the Judicial Power in Peru
, is an organism of the government
of the Republic of Peru composed of a hierarchic organization of institutions, that exercise equal justice to all people.
It is headed by the Supreme Court of the Republic
that has jurisdiction
over the whole nation. The second hierarchic level is made up of the Superior Courts which have jurisdiction over an entire Judicial District
which are more or less synonymous to the 25 Regions
or Departments of Peru. There are 28 Judicial Districts. The third hierarchic level is formed by the Courts of First Instance
(trial court), which have jurisdiction over each province
. The fourth and lowest hierarchic level of the Peruvian Judicial Power, are the Courts of Peace
who only have jurisdiction over a single district
.
. During the rule of the Viceroyalty of Peru
, there were many subdivisions which equal to almost all South American countries today:
When Peru
achieved independence, José de San Martín
resolved that the Audencia of Lima would be used as a national court until a permanent judicial system was established.
Later, Simón Bolívar
established the makings of the current Judicial system, with the creation of the Superior Court of Justice of Lima
, the Superior Court of Justice of Cusco
, the Superior Court of Justice of La Libertad
, and the Superior Court of Justice of Huamanga
.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, is an organism of the government
Government of Peru
Peru is a presidential representative democratic republic with a multi-party system. Under the current constitution, the President is the head of state and government; he or she is elected for five years and cannot seek immediate re-election, he or she must stand down for at least one full...
of the Republic of Peru composed of a hierarchic organization of institutions, that exercise equal justice to all people.
It is headed by the Supreme Court of the Republic
Supreme Court of Peru
The Supreme Court of Justice is the highest judicial court in Peru. Its jurisdiction extends over the entire territory of the nation. It is headquartered in the Palace of Justice in Lima.The supreme court is composed of three Supreme Sectors:...
that has jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
over the whole nation. The second hierarchic level is made up of the Superior Courts which have jurisdiction over an entire Judicial District
Judicial Districts of Peru
The Judicial Districts of Peru are subdivisions of the Judicial System of Peru. There are 28 Judicial Districts in Peru:#Judicial District of Amazonas#Judicial District of Ancash#Judicial District of Apurímac#Judicial District of Arequipa...
which are more or less synonymous to the 25 Regions
Regions of Peru
The regions of Peru are the first-level administrative subdivisions of Peru. Since its 1821 independence, Peru had been divided into departments but faced the problem of an increasing centralization of political and economic power in its capital, Lima...
or Departments of Peru. There are 28 Judicial Districts. The third hierarchic level is formed by the Courts of First Instance
Courts of First Instance of Peru
The Courts of First Instance are the third hierarchic level organized in the Judicial System of Peru.Each province, has a Court of First Instance...
(trial court), which have jurisdiction over each province
Provinces of Peru
The provinces of Peru, known in Spanish as provincias, are the second-level administrative subdivisions of the country. They are divided into districts . There are 195 provinces in Peru, grouped into 25 regions except for the Lima Province which does not belong to any region. This makes an average...
. The fourth and lowest hierarchic level of the Peruvian Judicial Power, are the Courts of Peace
Courts of Peace of Peru
The Courts of Peace are the lowest hierarchic level in the Judicial System of Peru.Each district in the country has a Court of Peace. Courts of Peace have jurisdiction over minor cases and cannot try criminals...
who only have jurisdiction over a single district
Districts of Peru
The districts of Peru are the third-level country subdivisions of Peru. They are subdivisions of the provinces, which in turn are subdivisions of the larger regions or departments...
.
History
The predecessor to the Judicial Power in Peru was the Real AudenciaAudencia
Audencia Nantes School of Management is one of the foremost business schools in France, accredited by EQUIS , AACSB and AMBA...
. During the rule of the Viceroyalty of Peru
Viceroyalty of Peru
Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...
, there were many subdivisions which equal to almost all South American countries today:
- Audencia of Panama (PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
) - Audencia of Santa Fe de Bogotá (ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
) - Audencia of La Plata de los Characas (BoliviaBoliviaBolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
), parts of BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, ParaguayParaguayParaguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the... - Audencia of Quito (EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
), parts of BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... - Audencia of Chile (ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
) - Audencia of Buenos Aires (ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
), parts of BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, UruguayUruguayUruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area... - Audencia of Caracas (VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
)
When Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
achieved independence, José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
resolved that the Audencia of Lima would be used as a national court until a permanent judicial system was established.
Later, Simón Bolívar
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Yeiter, commonly known as Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader...
established the makings of the current Judicial system, with the creation of the Superior Court of Justice of Lima
Judicial District of Lima
The Judicial District of Lima is one of the 28 Judicial Districts of the Judicial System of Peru.Its main seat is in the city of Lima and its jurisdiction extends to 35 of the 43 Districts of Lima...
, the Superior Court of Justice of Cusco
Judicial District of Cusco
The Judicial District of Cusco is one of the 28 Judicial Districts of the Judicial System of Peru.The headquarters is in the city of Cusco and its jurisdiction extends over the entire Cusco Region and the Cotabambas Province of the Apurímac Region....
, the Superior Court of Justice of La Libertad
Judicial District of La Libertad
The Judicial District of La Libertad is one of the 28 Judicial Districts of the Judicial System of Peru.Its headquarters is in the city of Trujillo and its jurisdiction extends over the entire La Libertad Region excluding the Bolívar Province which is under the jurisdiction of the Judicial District...
, and the Superior Court of Justice of Huamanga
Judicial District of Ayacucho
The Judicial District of Ayacucho is one of the 28 Judicial Districts of the Judicial System of Peru.The headquarters is in the city of Ayacucho and its jurisdiction extends over the entire Ayacucho Region with the exception of the Cangallo, Lucanas, Parinacochas, and Paucar del Sara Sara provinces...
.