Criminal Courts of First Instance hear criminal cases that are not assigned by law to another criminal court. Jurisdiction must be assessed through the alleged facts and current statutory provisions.
Statutory basis
The division of work between criminal courts is set by legislation. The offence described in the indictment, any special assignment rule and the statutory penalty framework are relevant to the initial assessment.
Indictment and classification
The prosecution’s legal characterisation is important but does not bind the trial court absolutely. The court evaluates the facts and may address jurisdiction if the legal character changes.
Trial process
After the indictment is accepted, the court hears the parties, examines evidence, rules on procedural requests and reaches a judgment within the limits of the charge and defence rights.
Review routes
The available appellate route depends on the judgment, the applicable procedural rules and any monetary or sentence-related threshold in force at the relevant time.
Durations and procedures may vary depending on the nature of the file. Current legislation and official sources should be taken as basis.
