In the second instance, of the cases corresponding in the first
instance to the Courts of Appeal, or to one member of the Supreme
Court. One member of the court, according to the turn established by
the court itself, judges in the first, including accusations and civil
claims against one or more members of the Court of Appeals, to make
effective their criminal or civil responsibility, and of the capture
of prizes, extradition, and other cases to be judged according to
international law.
Ministers of the Supreme Court, Ministers of the Courts of Appeal and
Judges of Letters are appointed for an indefinite period, subject to
good behavior. Judges of Subdelegations and of Districts are named for
a term of two years.
The Supreme Court is composed of ten ministers. Judges of the Supreme
Court and of the Courts of Appeal are named by the President. The
high court prepares a list of persons possessing the necessary
qualifications, which is presented to the Consejo de Estado (Council
of State). From this list the Council selects three names, which are
submitted to the President, and from which he may choose whoever he
pleases. In the appointment of a Judge of Letters, the Judges of the
Courts of Appeal, in whose jurisdiction the vacancy exists, prepare a
list of fifteen persons who have the necessary qualifications and send
it to the Consejo de Estado, which prepares therefrom a list of three,
from which the President names the judge.
Judges of Subdelegations and Districts are named by the governors of
the respective provinces, from lists of competent persons prepared by
the Judges of Letters within their jurisdiction.