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.
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.
Main article: List of presidents of Supreme Court (Chile) |
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. This list was last updated on 22 January 2016.[1]
Justice | End of mandate |
---|---|
Haroldo Osvaldo Brito Cruz (President) | 2023 |
Hugo Enrique Dolmestch Urra | 2019 |
Milton Iván Juica Arancibia | 2018 |
Sergio Manuel Muñoz Gajardo | 2032 |
Ángela Vivanco Martínez | 2038 |
Héctor Guillermo Carreño Seaman | 2019 |
Arturo Prado Puga | 2030 |
Carlos Guillermo Künsemüller Loebenfelder | 2021 |
Guillermo Enrique Silva Gundelach | 2022 |
Rosa María Maggi Ducommun | 2021 |
Rosa del Carmen Egnem Saldías | 2022 |
María Eugenia Sandoval Gouët | 2021 |
Juan Eduardo Fuentes Belmar | 2024 |
Lamberto Antonio Cisternas Rocha | 2020 |
Ricardo Luis Hernán Blanco Herrera | 2029 |
Gloria Ana Chevesich Ruiz | 2028 |
Carlos Ramón Aránguiz Zúñiga | 2028 |
Andrea María Muñoz Sánchez | 2032 |
Mauricio Silva Cancino | 2028 |
Manuel Antonio Valderrama Rebolledo | 2031 |
Jorge Gonzalo Dahm Oyarzún | 2023 |
See also: Chile under Pinochet and Human rights in Chile |
The Chilean Supreme Court has been involved in many important human rights cases regarding the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Main article: LGBT rights in Chile |
The Chilean Supreme Court has made controversial decisions in the area of gay rights.
On September 21, 2007, the court accepted Peru's request to extradite former president Alberto Fujimori, on human rights and corruption charges.