Macau Yearbook 2013 - Macao Yearbook

The Legal System and the Judiciary3. Unlimited claims for other disputes related to administration, taxation and customs; or forcases involving the assessment of the legality of regulations.The Administrative Court currently has two judges, who also oversee the office of theAdministrative Court and assume the posts defined by Items 2 to 5 of Clause 4 of Article 33 of theJudicial Organisation Framework Law. Each post is occupied for a three-year term and is assumedon a rotation basis according to descending seniority.The Court of Second InstanceThe Court of Second Instance has nine judges, one of whom is appointed President by the ChiefExecutive. The President of the Court of Second Instance serves a three-year term, and representsthe Court of Second Instance when dealing with other Government and judicial authorities. Heor she may serve consecutive terms. In addition to the routine responsibilities that accompanythe positions of judge and president, the president must ensure that the Court of Second Instancefunctions effectively.Statutory claims limits of appeal cases of the Court of Second Instance:1. 1,000,000 patacas for civil lawsuits regarding civil affairs and labour law;2. 1,000,000 patacas for administrative litigation and requests concerning administrativedisputes;3. 1,000,000 patacas for taxation and customs disputes;4. Unlimited claims for criminal cases regarding criminal and labour law; or for cases regardingthe education or social protection systems that fall within the jurisdiction of the juvenilejudicial system; for legal actions stemming from disputes related to administration, taxationand customs; or for cases involving the assessment of the legality of regulations.The Court of Final AppealThe Court of Final Appeal is the highest level of court in Macao.The Court of Final Appeal has three judges. The President of the Court of Final Appeal isappointed by the Chief Executive from among the serving judges of that level of court, and shallbe a Chinese citizen who is a permanent resident of Macao. The president serves three-year terms,which may be consecutive.The President of the Court of Final Appeal acts as a representative of the Macao SAR courts and,besides fulfilling the general responsibilities of a judge and president, must ensure that the Courtof Final Appeal and the Office of the President of the Court of Final Appeal function effectively.The Office of the President of the Court of Final AppealThe Office of the President of the Court of Final Appeal is an autonomous institution that runs itsown affairs, administration and finances. The office is responsible for coordinating the affairs of all123