Macao Yearbook 2011

Macao Yearbook 2011
The Court of First Instance
With the establishment of the MSAR, two new courts came into being as constituent parts of
the Court of First Instance. These new courts, the Lower Court and Administrative Court, obtain
their judicial authority from the Basic Law. The Basic Law also permits the Lower Court to form
specialised tribunals, as required, and to retain the Examining Magistracy created under the former
Portuguese administration. The Examining Magistracy therefore functions as part of the Lower Court.
The President of the Court of First Instance is appointed by the Chief Executive from among
the local judges of that level of court. The term of office of the President of the Court of First
Instance is three years, and consecutive terms may be served. The current president is a judge of
the Collegial Panel of the Lower Court. One of the duties of the president is to represent the Court
of First Instance when dealing with other Government agencies.
The Lower Court
The Lower Court currently consists of an administrative centre, three Civil Courts, four Criminal
Courts, two Examining Magistracies, and one Court for Minor Civil Cases (commonly known as
the Small Claims Tribunal). An Information Office has been established to enable citizens and
individuals involved in litigation to learn more about the workings of the courts, and to answer
questions about legal documents issued by the courts.
As at December 2010, the Lower Court has 24 judges: six presidents of Collegial Panels and
18 judges of Single-judge Benches.
The Lower Court may award up to 50,000 patacas in damages for civil cases regarding civil
affairs and labour law. However, it may award unlimited damages in criminal cases tried under
criminal or labour law, or in cases concerning the educational and social protection system that fall
within the jurisdiction of the juvenile judicial system.
Modus Operandi of the Lower Court
The Lower Court adjudicates over legal proceedings either as a Collegial Panel or as a Single-judge
Bench. Unless otherwise stipulated by law, legal actions are heard by a Single-judge Bench.
Collegial Panels comprise a panel president presiding over trials, a judge in charge of the dossier,
and one judge pre-appointed by the Judicial Council.
Trials by the Lower Court are open unless otherwise specified by procedural laws.
Powers of the Civil Court
The Civil Court has the power to hear cases that are civil in nature, and which do not fall under the
jurisdiction of other courts. It also hears cases of other types that do not fall under the jurisdiction
of other courts or tribunals, including all the related matters and issues raised by such cases.
Powers of the Criminal Court
The Criminal Court has the power to hear criminal cases or misdemeanours that do not fall under
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