Supreme Court of Thailand ศาลฎีกา |
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Supreme Court Building in Phra Nakhon
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Established | 1891 |
Country | Thailand |
Location | Bangkok, Thailand |
Website | www |
President | |
Currently | Veerapol Tungsuwan |
Since | October 1, 2015 |
The Supreme Court of Thailand (Thai: ศาลฎีกา San Dika), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the highest Thai court of justice, covering criminal and civil cases of the entire country. Operating separately from the Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court, the judgment from the Supreme Court is considered as final. Neither plaintiff nor respondent can request for any further appeals.
A Justice of the Supreme Court can be appointed from among justices of the Court of Appeals having seniority, extensive knowledge and experience. The current President of the Supreme Court is Judge Weerapon Thongsuwan (Thai: วีระพล ตั้งสุวรรณ).
Historically, there was no Supreme Court since a Thai monarch would adjudicate all disputes as the sole supreme judicial authority. Citizens appealed directly to the King along his route to places out of the Palace. This system existed until the early Rattanakosin Era; the reign of King Rama IV.
During the reign of King Rama V, an official department for appeals was set up in the Palace, and in 1891, the king created the Ministry of Justice. The Judicator Act of 1909 was also enacted under Rama V's reign. This act established the Supreme Court as the highest court in the country, and cases were no longer appealed to the king.
After Thailand adopted a democratic, constitutional form of government during the Siamese revolution of 1932, the Judicator Act of 1934 was enacted to amend the previous Judicator Act of 1909. The courts were divided into three levels, namely, Court of First Instance, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of Thailand acts as the final court of appeal in all civil and criminal cases in the entire kingdom. An order or judgment of the Supreme Court in all kinds of cases is final.