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The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Saint Lucia (other than the Court of Appeal, the High Court or a court martial) and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall refer the question to the High Court.
(2) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of this section, the High Court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if the decision is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal or Her Majesty in Council, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeal or, as the case may be, Her Majesty in Council. (Sec. 106)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Supreme Tribunal of Justice shall guarantee the supremacy and efficacy of constitutional rules and principles; it shall be the supreme and ultimate interpreter of the Constitution and shall see to the uniform interpretation and application of the same. Interpretations established by the Constitutional Division concerning the contents or scope of constitutional rules and principles are binding on the other division of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice and on all of the other courts of the Republic. (Art. 335)
- SpanishEl Tribunal Supremo de Justicia garantizará la supremacía y efectividad de las normas y principios constitucionales; será el máximo y último intérprete de la Constitución y velará por su uniforme interpretación y aplicación. Las interpretaciones que establezca la Sala Constitucional sobre el contenido o alcance de las normas y principios constitucionales son vinculantes para las otras Salas del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia y demás tribunales de la República. (Art. 335)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) Subject to the provisions of sections 33(2), 34(4), 54(18), 69(6), 80(4) and 123(3) of this Constitution, where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution or the interpretation or application of the Treaty (as defined in section 131 of this Constitution) arises in any court of law established for Belize (other than the High Court or the Court of Appeal), and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall refer the question to the High Court.
(2) Where any question is referred to the High Court in pursuance of this section, the High Court shall, subject to subsection (3) below, give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision or, if the decision is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal or the Caribbean Court of Justice, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeal or, as the case may be, the Caribbean Court of Justice.
… (Sec. 96)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe processes promoted before the Constitutional Court in the matters to which this Article refers will be regulated by the law in conformity with the following provisions:
1. Any citizen can exercise the public recourses [acciones] provided for in the preceding Article and intervene as impugnor or defender of the norms submitted to control in the processes promoted by others, as well as in those cases where no public action exists.
2. The Procurator General of the Nation must intervene in all these processes.
… (Art. 242) - SpanishLos procesos que se adelanten ante la Corte Constitucional en las materias a que se refiere este título, serán regulados por la ley conforme a las siguientes disposiciones:
1. Cualquier ciudadano podrá ejercer las acciones públicas previstas en el artículo precedente, e intervenir como impugnador o defensor de las normas sometidas a control en los procesos promovidos por otros, así como en aquellos para los cuales no existe acción pública.
2. El Procurador General de la Nación deberá intervenir en todos los procesos.
... (Art. 242)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Supreme Court of Justice will have a Constitutional Chamber [Sala de lo Constitucional], to which it will correspond to take cognizance of and resolve the complaints [demandas] of unconstitutionality of the laws, decrees and regulations, the processes of amparo, [and] habeas corpus, [the] conflicts [controversias] between the Legislative Organ and [the] Executive Organ to which Article 138 refers, and [the] causes mentioned in the 7th attribution of Article 182 of this Constitution.
… (Art. 174) - SpanishLa Corte Suprema de Justicia tendrá una Sala de lo Constitucional, a la cual corresponderá conocer y resolverlas demandas de inconstitucionalidad de las leyes, decretos y reglamentos, los procesos de amparo, el habeas corpus, las controversias entre el Órgano Legislativo y el Órgano Ejecutivo a que se refiere el Art. 138 y las causas mencionadas en la atribución 7a. del Art. 182 de esta Constitución.
… (Art. 174)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishLaws may be declared unconstitutional because of their form or content.
The Supreme Court of Justice has original and exclusive jurisdiction over hearing and deciding such matters and must render its decisions in accordance with the requirements governing final judgments. (Art. 184) - SpanishLas leyes podrán ser declaradas inconstitucionales por razón de forma o de contenido.
A la Corte Suprema de Justicia le compete el conocimiento y la resolución originaria y exclusiva en la materia, y deberá pronunciarse con los requisitos de las sentencias definitivas. (Art. 184)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English[The following] are duties and attributions of the Supreme Court of Justice:
…
5. to take cognizance [conocer] and to decide [resolver] on unconstitutionality;
… (Art. 259) - SpanishSon deberes y atribuciones de la Corte Suprema de Justicia:
…
5. conocer y resolver sobre inconstitucionalidad;
… (Art. 259)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishSubject to the provisions of section 36 of this Constitution, an appeal shall lie from decisions of the High Court to the Court of Appeal as of right in the following cases-
a. final decision in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation of this Constitution;
b. final decisions given in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred on the High Court by section 16 of this Constitution (which relates to the enforcement of the fundamental rights and freedoms); and
c. such other cases as may be prescribed by Parliament. (Sec. 98)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishI. The Action for Compliance (Accion de Cumplimiento) shall apply to the case of non compliance with provisions of the constitutional or the law on the part of public servants, and has as its objective the guaranteeing of the execution of the norm.
II. The action shall be filed by the affected individual or collective, or by another with sufficient power in name of the affected party, before a competent judge or court, and shall be processed in the same manner as the Action for Constitutional Protection.
… (Art. 134) - SpanishI. La Acción de Cumplimiento procederá en caso de incumplimiento de disposiciones constitucionales o de la ley por parte de servidores públicos, con el objeto de garantizar la ejecución de la norma omitida.
II. La acción se interpondrá por la persona individual o colectiva afectada, o por otra a su nombre con poder suficiente, ante juez o tribunal competente, y se tramitará de la misma forma que la Acción de Amparo Constitucional.
… (Art. 134)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Dominica (other than the Court of Appeal, the High Court or a court- martial) and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court shall refer the question to the High Court.
… (Sec. 104)