Text Size
Print
Email
Top Stories
- Text Size
- Print
- Email
The Hierarchy of the Panama Criminal Courts
The hierarchy of the Panama Criminal Courts is structured in a three-tiered system:
*1. Municipal Courts (Juzgados Municipales)
These are the lowest-level courts in the criminal justice system.
They typically handle minor offenses or crimes where the potential imprisonment term is less than two years.
There are municipal courts located within the various municipal subdivisions of Panama.
*2. Circuit Courts (Tribunales de Circuito)
These are the intermediate-level trial courts for criminal matters.
They have jurisdiction over more serious crimes where the potential imprisonment term is greater than two years.
In each province, there is generally one Circuit Court dedicated to criminal cases. However, in the province of Panama, there are multiple Circuit Courts with jurisdiction over specific municipalities.
Three circuit judges often act as an appellate court to hear appeals from the Municipal Courts, with one judge serving as the main appellate judge in a specific case.
*3. Superior Courts of Justice (Tribunales Superiores de Justicia) - Criminal Chamber (Sala Segunda de lo Penal)
These are the appellate courts for criminal cases.
They hear appeals against decisions made by the Circuit Courts.
Panama is divided into four judicial districts, and each district has a Superior Court.
The Second Chamber (Criminal Chamber) of the Supreme Court of Justice acts as the highest court of appeal for criminal matters and may conduct extraordinary reviews of decisions made by the Superior Courts.
*4. Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) - Second Chamber of Criminal Matters (Sala Segunda de lo Penal)
The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in Panama.
It is divided into four chambers, one of which is the Second Chamber (Criminal Chamber).
This chamber handles the final appeals and extraordinary reviews in criminal cases that come from the Superior Courts.
The Supreme Court, sitting in plenary (all nine justices), also handles cases concerning constitutional matters.
In summary, the hierarchy progresses from the Municipal Courts handling minor offenses, to the Circuit Courts dealing with more serious crimes, then to the Superior Courts of Justice (Criminal Chamber) for appeals, and finally to the Supreme Court of Justice (Second Chamber of Criminal Matters) as the ultimate appellate authority in Panama's criminal justice system.
2025 The Background Investigator. All Rights Reserved.