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The Judicial System of the Russian Federation

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1991 re-constituted as a federationCourts approved by the Federation Council

(Article 127)80 Subjects

Regions2 major cities

Moscow, St PetersburgRepublics

Chechnya as an example

Russia’s Regions

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Highest Judicial body

19 judgesJune 2008, St

PetersburgInterpret the

ConstitutionConstitutionality of

laws passed

The Constitutional Court

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JurisdictionCivil, criminal and administrative matters

123 judgesLocated in MoscowHighest court of appeals (cassation)Original jurisdiction on serious criminal casesAlso issues regulations

Explanations on issues of judicial practice

The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

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Supreme Courts of the Republics (High Courts)

Moscow and St Petersburg courtsCourts of Autonomous districtsCourts of the Subjects, appealsDistrict CourtsJustices of the Peace

Courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation

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Smaller towns and villages have oneCities may have manyBasis for general jurisdictionCivil, criminal jurisdictionAppeals from Justices of the Peace

District Courts

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General jurisdictionProfessional judges (lower pay)Smaller civil disputesPetty administrative and criminal offensesEach district with several justices

Justices of the Peace

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Basic tierCourts of the armies, fleets, garrisons and

military formationsMiddle tier

Courts of the Branches, seven districts, anti-aircraft defense, navy, and individual armies

Disputes among military personnelMilitary Prosecutor General’s Office in charge

Military Courts

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Commercial CourtsCommercial disputes by legal personsFour levels

The Supreme Arbitration CourtDisputes between Government and Commercial

parties, Government and subjects, or two subjectsFederal District Arbitration Courts

Cassation only (review of the law)Appellate Courts

Rehearing new evidenceArbitration Courts of the Subjects: Most cases

heard here

Arbitration Courts

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Constitutional (Charter) CourtsArticle 27 allows these courtsFew actually set upIndependent of Russian Federation CourtsSame jurisdiction to hear cases

Regional Courts

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December 2011 laws enactedFeb. 1st 2013 Courts must be set upOriginally heard in Civil CourtsOriginal Jurisdiction

Cases to challenge regulatory actsDisputes concerning the grant or termination

of legal protection for trademarks, inventions etc.

The Intellectual Property Court