The Supreme Court of Uruguay (Spanish: Suprema Corte de Justicia de Uruguay) is the highest court of law and last resort in the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. It serves as the highest appeals court, and appoints and oversees all other judges. Established on 28 October 1907, it is housed in the Palacio Piria, a masterpiece of eclectic architecture from 1917.[1]

Supreme Court of Uruguay
Corte Suprema de Justicia
de la República Oriental del Uruguay
Palacio Piria, seat of the Supreme Court
Established28 October 1917; 107 years ago (1917-10-28)
LocationMontevideo
Composition methodAppointed by the General Assembly by two thirds of the votes.
Authorised byUruguayan Constitution
Judge term length10 years
Number of positions5
Websitepoderjudicial.gub.uy
President of the Supreme Court
CurrentlyElena Martínez Rosso
Since1 February 2024; 9 months ago (1 February 2024)

Article 235 of the Constitution establishes that the members of the Supreme Court of Justice must be at least 40 years old, be natural-born citizens (or be legal citizens with ten years exercise thereof and twenty-five years of residence in the country), and have been a lawyer for ten years, or as such to have been a member of the Judiciary, the Public or Fiscal Ministry for a period of eight years.[2] Article 236 establishes shall be appointed by the General Assembly by a two-thirds vote of its full membership.[3] Also, the term-length will be ten years and they may not be re-elected until after a period of five years following the previous term. Additionally, the position shall cease when they reach the age of seventy years.[3] The presidency of the Court rotates annually among the justices according to the order of seniority in office.[4]

Powers and duties

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According to Article 329 to the Supreme Court is assigned:[3]

  1. Judge all violators of the Constitution, without exception; offenses against the law of nations and cases in admiralty; questions relating to treaties, pacts and conventions with other States; and take cognizance of cases involving diplomatic Representatives in such cases as are contemplated in international law.
  2. Exercise directive, corrective, advisory, and economic supervision over the Tribunals, Courts and other dependencies of the Judiciary.
  3. Prepare the draft budgets of the Judicial Power and transmit them in due course to the Executive Power for inclusion in the draft of the general budget, together with such modifications as may be deemed appropriate.
  4. With the approval of the Senate, or during its recess with that of the Permanent Commission, appoint the citizens who shall compose the Appellate Tribunals, such appointments to be contingent upon the following: a favorable vote of three of its members, for candidates who belong to the Judiciary or the Public Ministry; A favorable vote of four, for candidates not having the qualifications of the foregoing paragraph.
  5. Appoint the Lawyer Judges of all grades and classes, an absolute majority of all members of the Supreme Court being required in each case.
  6. Appoint the permanent Official Defenders and Justices of the Peace by absolute majority of all members of the Supreme Court of Justice.
  7. Appoint, promote, or remove, by a vote of four of its members, the employees of the Judicial Power, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 58 to 66, wherever pertinent.
  8. Perform such other duties as the law may prescribe.

Membership

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Ministers of the Supreme Court[5]
Justice /

birthdate and place

Start date /

length of service

Succeeded
(President)
Elena Martínez Rosso
2 September 2015
9 years, 63 days
Ruibal
Doris Morales Martínez 8 February 2022
2 years, 270 days
Tosi Boeri
Bernadette Minvielle Sánchez 9 August 2017
7 years, 87 days
Pérez Manrique
Tabaré Sosa Aguirre 11 September 2017
6 years, 361 days
Chediak
John Pérez Brignani 15 December 2020
3 years, 325 days
Turell Araquistain

Former members

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Ministers of the Supreme Court
Name Period Name Period Name Period
Carlos Fein 1907–1908 Edenes A. Mallo 1965–1974 Felipe Hounie 2015–2018
Domingo González 1907–1908 Velarde Cerdeiras 1967–1972 Elena Martínez Rosso 2015–
Luis Piera 1907–1910 Álvaro Méndez Modernell 1972–1974 Bernadette Minvielle Sánchez 2015–
Ezequiel Garzón 1907–1925 Rómulo Vago 1972–1978 Eduardo Turell Araquistain 2017–2020
Benito Cuñarro 1907–1928 Carlos Dubra 1972–1981 Luis Tosi 2018–2022
Luis Romeu Burgues 1908–1925 Sabino Dante Sabini 1973–1979 Tabaré Sosa Aguirre 2019–
Julio Bastos 1908–1929 Agustín de Vega 1974–1976 John Pérez Brignani 2020–
Pablo de María 1911–1914 Francisco José Márcora 1974–1978 Doris Morales Martínez 2022–
Abel Pinto 1914–1934 José Pedro Gatto de Souza 1976–1984
Ramón Montero Paullier 1925–1928 Enrique Frigerio 1978–1983
Miguel V. Martínez 1925–1933 Ramiro López Rivas 1978–1984
Teófilo Piñeiro 1928–1931 José Pedro Igoa 1979–1981
Juan A. Méndez del Marco 1928–1939 Erik Colombo 1981–1982
Julio Guani 1929–1944 Sara Fons de Genta 1981–1985
Pedro Aladio 1931–1934 Juan José Silva Delgado 1983–1985
Juan Aguirre y González 1934–1940 Rafael Addiego Bruno 1984–1993
Mariano Pereira Núñez 1935–1938 Jacinta Balbela 1985–1989
Blas Vidal 1935–1938 Nelson Nicoliello 1985–1989
Román Álvarez Cortés 1938–1941 Armando Tommasino 1985–1992
Zoilo Saldías 1938–1942 Nelson García Otero 1985–1992
Jaime Cibils Larravide 1940–1942 Jorge Pessano 1989–1990
Juan José Aguiar 1940–1948 Jorge Marabotto 1990–2000
Amaro Carve Urioste 1941–1945 Luis Torello 1991–1998
José B. Nattino 1942–1947 Raúl Alonso de Marco 1992–2002
Juan M. Minelli 1942–1949 Juan Mariño Chiarlone 1993–2001
Eduardo Artecona 1944–1953 Milton Cairoli 1993–2003
Enrique Armand Ugón 1945–1952 Gervasio Guillot [es] 1998–2003
Francisco Gamarra 1947–1953 Roberto Parga 2000–2007
Bolívar Baliñas 1949–1950 Leslie van Rompaey 2002–2012
Álvaro Macedo 1949–1959 Daniel Gutiérrez 2002–2012
Rivera Astigarraga 1951–1961 Pablo Troise 2003–2006
Manuel López Esponda 1952–1962 Hipólito Rodríguez Caorsi 2003–2009
Luis Alberto Bouza 1954–1964 Sara Bossio 2006–2008
Julio César De Gregorio 1954–1964 Julio César Chalar 2012–2014
Esteban Ruiz 1962–1967 Jorge Ruibal 2007–2015
Hamlet Reyes 1962–1972 Jorge Larrieux 2008–2016
Emilio Siemens Amaro 1962–1972 Jorge Chediak 2009–2019
Alberto Sánchez Rogé 1965–1973 Ricardo Pérez Manrique 2012–2017

References

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  1. ^ Palacio Piria Archived 1 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "SECCION XV – DEL PODER JUDICIAL – CAPITULO II, Artículo 235".
  3. ^ a b c "Uruguay's Constitution of 1966, Reinstated in 1985, with Amendments through 2004" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Ley N° 15750". www.impo.com.uy. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ ElPais (February 2022). "John Pérez Brignani asumió la presidencia de la Suprema Corte de Justicia". Diario EL PAIS Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 February 2022.
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