| High courts in Taiwan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 高等法院 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Japanese name | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kanji | 高等法院 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Kana | こうとうほういん | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Thehigh courts (Chinese:高等法院;pinyin:Gāoděng Fǎyuàn;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Ko-téng Hoat-īⁿ) are the intermediateappellate courts under thelaw of Taiwan. The modern court system of Taiwan was founded in 1896, under theJapanese era. Currently there are six high courts and branches inTaiwan.
In 1896, theHigh Court of theGovernment-General of Taiwan (臺灣總督府高等法院,Taiwan Sōtokufu Kōtō Hōin) was established inTaihoku. This was thesupreme court ofTaiwan in theJapanese era. Note that theEmpire of Japan was grantedextraterritoriality inChina from late 19th century untilWorld War II. This also handled the trial cases appealed from Taihoku District court (臺北地方法院) regardingJapanese citizens (including Taiwanese and Korean) in theChinese provinces ofFujian,Guangdong andYunnan.
AfterWorld War II, the Taiwan High Court was established under theJudicial Yuan, with more high court branches being established for the increasing population.
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| No. | Name | Chinese | Jurisdiction | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District courts | Administrative divisions | ||||
| 1 | Taiwan High Court | 臺灣高等法院 | Hsinchu, Keelung, New Taipei, Shilin, Taipei, Taoyuan, Yilan | Hsinchucity/county,Keelung,New Taipei,Taipei,Taoyuan,Yilan | |
| 2 | Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch Court | 臺灣高等法院臺中分院 | Changhua, Miaoli, Nantou, Taichung | Changhua,Miaoli,Nantou,Taichung | |
| 3 | Taiwan High Court Tainan Branch Court | 臺灣高等法院臺南分院 | Chiayi, Tainan, Yunlin | Chiayicity/county,Tainan,Yunlin | |
| 4 | Taiwan High Court Kaohsiung Branch Court | 臺灣高等法院高雄分院 | Ciaotou, Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Juvenile and Family, Penghu, Pingtung | Kaohsiung,Penghu,Pingtung | |
| 5 | Taiwan High Court Hualien Branch Court | 臺灣高等法院花蓮分院 | Hualien | Hualien | |
| Taitung Court | 臺東庭 | Taitung | Taitung | ||
| 6 | Fuchien High Court Kinmen Branch Court | 福建高等法院金門分院 | Kinmen | Kinmen | |
| Lienchiang Circuit Court | 連江巡迴法庭 | Lienchiang | Lienchiang(Matsu) | ||
The high courts and its branches exercise jurisdiction over the following cases:[1]
The high courts and its branch courts are divided into civil, criminal and specialized divisions. Each division is composed of one division chief judge and two associate judges. Additionally, each high court and its branch courts have a clerical bureau, which is headed by a chief clerk who assists the president with administrative affairs.[1]
Cases before the high courts or its branch courts are heard and decided by a panel of three judges. However, one of the judges may conduct preparatory proceedings.[1]
The court has seven civil courts, each of which has one presiding judge and three judges to handle civil appeals of the second instance and counter-appeal cases under the system of collegial panels, but they do not deal with simple litigation. The Court has eleven criminal courts, each of which has one presiding judge and two or three judges to handle criminal appeals of the second instance and counter-appeal cases under the system of collegial panels as well as litigation of the first instance concerning civil strife, foreign aggression or violation of foreign relations. Based on various needs, the court manages several professional courts such as the Professional Court of Fair Trade Cases, Family Professional Court, Professional Court of International Trade, Maritime Professional Court, Professional Court of State Compensation, Professional Court of Anti-corruption, Professional Court of Intellectual Property Rights, Professional Court of Juvenile Delinquency, Professional Court of Serious Criminal Cases, Professional Court of Public Security, Professional Court of Fair Trade Act, Professional Court of Sexual Harassment, etc.[1]
