Supreme Court of Croatia

Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia Vrhovni sud Republike Hrvatske
Palace of the Supreme Court is located at the Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square
Country	Croatia
Location	Zagreb
Coordinates	45°48′41.5″N 15°58′43.5″E / 45.811528°N 15.978750°E / 45.811528; 15.978750Coordinates: 45°48′41.5″N 15°58′43.5″E / 45.811528°N 15.978750°E / 45.811528; 15.978750
Composition method	Elected by the National Judicial Council
Authorized by	Constitution of the Republic of Croatia
Judge term length	Five years in the first term, life tenure after renewal with mandatory retirement at the age of 70
Number of positions	42[1]
Website	vshr.hr
President
Currently	Branko Hrvatin, mag. iur.
Since	July 7, 2005 (was reelected two times, in 2009 and 2013)

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia (Croatian: Vrhovni sud Republike Hrvatske) is the highest court in the country, which ensures the uniform application of laws and equal justice to all.

Judicial system

Courts protect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia as established by the Constitution and law, and provide for the uniform application of law and equal justice for all.

Administration of justice in the Republic of Croatia is carried out by:

• misdemeanor courts,
• municipal courts,
• county courts,
• commercial courts,
• the High Misdemeanor Court of the Republic of Croatia,
• the high Commercial Court of the Republic of Croatia,
• the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia and
• the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia.

Powers and responsibilities

Supreme Court basic duties:

1. ensures the uniform application of law and equal protection of all citizens before the law
2. discusses all important legal issues arising from the court practice
3. decides on extraordinary legal remedies against final decisions of all courts in the Republic of Croatia
4. hears appeals against decisions of county courts rendered in the first instance
5. hears appeals against decisions of the High Commercial Court of the Republic of Croatia and the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia, and any other court when specified so by the law
6. decides on the conflict of jurisdiction between the courts in the territory of the Republic of Croatia when they have the same immediately superior court
7. provide for the professional development of judges

Composition

The President of the Supreme Court is elected and relieved of duty by the Croatian Parliament at the proposal of the President of the Republic.

Judicial office is permanent, but exceptionally, at assuming the judicial office for the first time, judges are appointed for a five-year term. After the renewal of the appointment, judges assume their duty as permanent.

All judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council and relieves them of judicial duty, as well as decides on their disciplinary responsibility.

A judge can be relieved of judicial office:

1. at his/her own request
2. if he/she has become permanently incapacitated to perform judicial office
3. if sentenced for a criminal offence which makes him/her unworthy of the judicial office
4. if, in conformity with the law, so decides the National Judicial Council due to the commitment of an act of serious infringement of discipline
5. when reaching 70 years of age

References

External links

• Supreme Court of Croatia
• High Commercial Court of Croatia (currently available only in Croatian)