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Supreme Court of Chile

Coordinates: 33°26′21″S 70°39′11″W / 33.43917°S 70.65306°W / -33.43917; -70.65306
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Supreme Court of Chile
Corte Suprema de Justicia de Chile
The Justice Courts Palace (Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia) in Santiago, seat of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals of Santiago
Map
33°26′21″S 70°39′11″W / 33.4391964°S 70.6531933°W / -33.4391964; -70.6531933
EstablishedDecember 29, 1823; 200 years ago (1823-12-29)
LocationSantiago
Coordinates33°26′21″S 70°39′11″W / 33.4391964°S 70.6531933°W / -33.4391964; -70.6531933
Composition methodMinisters are nominated by the Court itself, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate
Authorised byConstitution of Chile
Judge term length75 years old or until ceasing in good conduct
Number of positions21
Websitepjud.cl
President of the Supreme Court
CurrentlyRicardo Blanco Herrera
Since2024

The Supreme Court of Chile is the highest court in Chile. It also administers the lower courts in the nation. It is located in the capital Santiago.

In the Chilean system, the court lacks the broader power of judicial review—it cannot set binding precedent or invalidate laws. Instead, it acts on a case-by-case basis. Trials are carried out in salas, chambers of at least five judges, presided over by the most senior member.

Membership

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The members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President from a list of five choices prepared by the sitting members of the court. Two of the choices must be senior judges from appellate courts; the other three may have no judicial experience. The president's choice must then be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Senate.

Supreme Court justices must be at least 36 years old. Once appointed, a Chilean Supreme Court justice is entitled to remain on the Court until the compulsory retirement age of 75. The only exception is if a justice can be removed by "notorious abandonment of duty," as deemed by a majority of both chambers of Congress.

Current Supreme Court members

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The Supreme Court has twenty-one members, called ministers (ministros). One member is selected to serve a two-year term as President of the Supreme Court. The composition of the Supreme Court changes relatively quickly, as judges attain the retirement age of 75.

Note: List last updated on 21 August 2023.[1]

Justice End of mandate
Juan Eduardo Fuentes Belamar (President) 2024
Sergio Manuel Muñoz Gajardo 2032
Haroldo Osvaldo Brito Cruz 2023
Ricardo Luis Hernán Blanco Herrera 2029
Gloria Ana Chevesich Ruiz 2028
Andrea María Mercedes Muñoz Sánchez 2032
Manuel Antonio Valderrama Rebolledo 2031
Jorge Gonzalo Dahm Oyarzún 2023
Arturo Jose Prado Puga 2030
Ángela Francisca Vivanco Martínez 2038
Mauricio Alonso Silva Cancino 2028
María Angélica Cecilia Repetto García 2028
Leopoldo Andrés Llanos Sagrista Unknown
Adelita Inés Ravanales Arriagada 2039
Mario Rolando Carroza Espinosa 2026
María Teresa de Jesús Letelier Ramírez 2025
Jean Pierre Matus Acuña 2042
Maria Cristina Gajardo Harboe Unknown
Carlos Ramón Aránguiz Zúñiga 2028
Diego Gonzalo Simpértigue Limare 2031
María Soledad Melo Labra Unknown

Notable decisions

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Augusto Pinochet

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The Chilean Supreme Court has been involved in many important human rights cases regarding the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

  • In July 2002, it dismissed a case against Pinochet, saying that he was unfit to stand trial due to dementia.
  • In August 2004, it confirmed a lower court's decision that Pinochet should lose his automatic immunity he acquired from being a former senator.
  • In March 2005, it reversed a lower court's decision stripping Pinochet of immunity in the case of the assassination of Carlos Prats.
  • In August 2007, it upheld a life sentence for Hugo Salas Wenzel, the first senior official to receive a life term for human rights violations conducted during the reign of Pinochet. [1]

Gay rights

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The Chilean Supreme Court has made controversial decisions in the area of gay rights.

Women's health

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  • In November 2005, the Chilean Supreme Court ruled that the sale of contraceptive morning-after pill Postinor 2 is constitutional.

Alberto Fujimori

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On September 21, 2007, the court accepted Peru's request to extradite former president Alberto Fujimori, on human rights and corruption charges.

References

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  1. ^ "Judiciary of the Republic of Chile (Poder Judicial de la República de Chile)" (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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33°26′21″S 70°39′11″W / 33.43917°S 70.65306°W / -33.43917; -70.65306