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CONTENTS

Proclamation No. 25/1996

Federal Courts Proclamation Page 129.

PROCLAMATION NO. 25/ 1996

FEDERAL COURTS' PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, in the Federal Democratic Republic ofEthiopia,judical power is vested in both the FederalGovern-ment and the Regions;

WHEREAS, it is found necessary to determine thejurisdiction of the. Federal Courts on the basis of theConstitution;

NOW,THEREFORE,in accordancewithArticle55 (1)of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic ofEthiopia, it is herebyproclaimedas follows:

PART ONEGeneral

1. Short Title

This Proclamationmay be cited as the' 'Federal CourtsProclamationNo. 25/1996."

Definitions

In this Proclamation:1) "Officials of the Federal Government" means

members of the House of Peoples' Representativesand of the House of the Federation,officials of theFederal Governmentabove ministerialrank, minis-ters,judges of the FederalSupremeCourt and otherofficials of the Federal Government of equivalentrank;

2) "Employees of the Federal Gpvernment" includesall employees,otherthan thosereferredto under sub'"Article (1) hereof, engaged in the activities of theFederalGovernment;

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Negarit G.P.O.Box 80.001

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3) "Laws-oftheFederalGovernment" includesallpreviouslaws in force which are not inconsistent with theConstitution and relating to matter.sthat fall'within thecompetenceof theFederalGovernihentas specifiedin theConstitution;

4) "Federal Courts" meansthe FederalSupremeCourt, theFederalHigh Court and the FederalFirst InstanceCourt;

5) "Person" meansa naturalor juridical person..'

PART TWOCommon Jurisdiction of Federal Courts

3. Principle

FederalCourtsshallhavejurisdictionover:1) cases arising under the Constitution,Federal Laws

and InternationalTreaties;2) partiesspecifiedin FederalLaws;3) places specified in the Constitution or in Federal

Laws.

4. CriminalJurisdiction

FederalCourtsshallhavejurisdictionover the followingcriminalcases:1) offences against the Constitutionalorder or against

the internalsecurityof the state;2) offencesagainstforeignstates;3) offencesagainstthe law of nations;4) offencesagainstthe fiscal and economic interestsof

the FederalGovernment;5) offencesregardingcounterfeitcurrency;6) offences regarding forgery of instruments of the

FederalGovernment;7) offences regarding the security and freedom of

communicationservicesoperatingwithinmore thanone Regionor at the internationallevel;

8) offencesagainstthe safetyof aviation;9) offencesregardingforeignnationals;

10) offences regarding illicit trafficking of dangerousdrugs;

11) offences falling under the jurisdiction of courts ofdifferentRegionsor underthejurisdictionof both theFederal and Regional Courts as well as concurrentoffences;

12) offencescommittedby officialsandemployeesof theFederalGovernmentin connectionwith their officialresponsibilitiesor duties.

5. Civil Jurisdiction

FederalCourts shallhavejurisdictionover the followingcivil cases:1) casesto whichaFederalGQvernmentorg~ is aparty;2) suits between persons permanently residing in

differentRegions;3) casesregardingthe liabilityof officialsor employees

of the Federal Governmentin connectionwith theirofficialresponsibilitiesor duties;

4) cases to which a foreign national is a party; ,

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5) suits involving matters of nationality;

f» suits relating to business organizations registered orfonned under the jurisdi~tion of Federal Government

" organs;

7) suits regarding negotiable instruments;8) suits relating t9 patent, literary and artistic-ownership

rights;

9) suits regarding insurance policy;

10) application for Habeas Corpus.

6. Substantive Laws to be Applied by Federal CoUIts

1) Federal Courts shall settlecases or disputes, submitted tothem within their jurisdiction on the b~is of:

(a) Federal laws and international treaties;

(b) Regional hiws where the cases relate to same;

2) Regional laws to be applied pursuant to sub-Article (1)

(b) hereof shall not be. applicabe where they areinconsistent with'Federallaws and internationaltreaties.

3) WJ:lerea case brought before them gives rise to issues of. .

Const~tutionalinterpretation, Federal courts shall referthe case to the Council of Constitutional Inquiry prior togiving decision on the matter.

7. Procedural Laws to be Applied by Federal CoUIts

The Criminal and Civil Procedure Codes as well as other

relevant laws in force shaUapply with respect to matters notprovided for under this Proclamation insofar as they are notinconsistent therewith.

. PARTTHREEJurisdiction of the Federal Supreme Court

8. First Instance Jurisdiction of the Federal Supreme Court"

The Federal Supreme Court shall have exclusive flfstinstancejurisdiction over the following:

1) offences f9r which officials of the Federal Governmentare held liable in connection with their official respon-sibility;

, 2) without prejudice to international diplomatic law andcustom, offences for which foreign ambassadors, con-suls as well as representatives of international or-ganizations and foreign states ar~peld liable;

3) app1icationfor change of venue from one Federal HighCourt to another or to itself, in accordance with the law.

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9. AppellateJurisdictionof the FederalSupreme Court

The FederalSupremeCourt shallhave appellatejurisdic-tion over:

1) decisions of the Federal High Court rendered in itsfIrst instancejurisdiction;

2) decisions of the Federal High Court rendered in itsappellatejurisdiction in variationof the decision ofthe FederalFirst InstanceCourt.

10. Powerof Cassationof theFederalSupreme Court

In caseswheretheycontainfundamentalerrorof law, theFederal Supreme Court, shall have the power of cas-sation over:

1) fmaldecisionsof the FederalHighCourt renderedinits appellatejurisdiction;

2) fInaldecisionsof the regular'divisionof the FederalSupremeCourt;

3) fInal decisions of the Regional Supreme Courtrendered as a regular division or in its appellatejurisdiction.

PART FOUR

Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court and First Instance Court

11. First Instance Civil Jurisdiction of the Federal HighCourt

1) The Federal High Court shall have fIrst instancejurisdictionover the followingcivilcases involvingan amount in excess of Birr fIve hundred thousand(500,000);

(a) without prejudice to the jurisdiction of theFederal SupremeCourt Qnderarticle 8 of thisProclamation, federal civil. cases submittedpursuantto Articles3 and 5 herein;

(b) other civil cases arising in Addis Ababa andDire Dawa.

2) Notwithstandingthe provisionsof sub-Article I (a)hereof, the Federal High Court shall have fIrstinstancejurisdictionover the followingcivil cases:

(a) cases regardingprivate intemationallaw;(b) cases regardingnationality;(c) applicationregardingthe enforcementof foreign

judgementsor decisions;(d) app\ications for change of venue from one

Federal First Instance Court to allother or toitself, in accordancewith the law.

12. FirstInstance CriminalJurisdictionof theFederalHighCourt

TheFederalHighCourtshallhavefIrstinstancejurisdic-tion over the followingcriminalcases:

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1) criminal cases specified under sub-Articles (1), (2), (3),(8) and (to) of article 4 hereof;

2) other criminal cases arising in Addis Ababa and DireDawa and -falling under the jurisdiction of the HighCourt pursuant to other laws in force.

13. Appellate Jurisdiction of the Federal High CoUlt

The" Federal High Court shan have appellate jurisdictionovet decisions of the Federal First Instance Court.

14. Civil Jurisdiction of the Federal First InstanceCoUlt

The Federal First Instance Court shall have jurisdiction overthe following civil cases involving an amount not in excessof Birr five hundred thousand (500,000) or over civil cases

the value of which cannot be expressed in money:

1) ...without prejudice to the jurisdictions of the FederalSupreme court and High court under Article 8 and sub-Article (2) of Article 11 hereof, federal civil casessubmitted pursuant to articles 3 and 5 of thisProclamation;

2) without prejudice to judicial power vested in otherorgans by law, other civil cases arising inAddis Ababaand Dire Dawa.

15. Criminal Jurisdiction of the Federal First Instance CoUlt

The Federal First Instance Court shall have jurisdiction overthe following criminal cases:

1) criminal cases specified under sub-Articles (4) (5) (6)(7) and (9) of article 4 hereof;

2) without prejudice to judicial power vested in otherorgans by law, other criminal cases arising in AddisAbaba and Dire Dawa as well as other criminal cases

under the jurisdictions of Awraja and Woreda Courtspursuant to other laws in force.

PART FIVEThe Presidents of Federal Courts

16. Powers and Duties of the President of the Federal SupremeCoUlt

1) The President 'of the Federal Supreme Court shall beresponsible for the administration of Federal Courts inaccordance with the law.

2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-Article (1)hereof, the President of the Federal Supreme Courtshall:

(a) in consultation with the Federal High Court andthe Federal First Instance.Court, place, assign andadministerjudges of Federal Courts;

(b) in consultation with the Presidents of the FederalHigh Court and the Federal First Instance Court,employ personnel necessary for Federal Courts;

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(c) prepare and submit to the House of Peoples'Representatives the work plan and budget ofFederal Courts and implement same upon approval,forward his opinion on requests for budgetarysubsidy to regional Courts exercising federal juris-diction by delegation;

(d) cause the publication of the law journal of theFederal Supreme Court;

(e) cause the preparation of statements regarding theactivities of Federal Courts and the submission of

reports on the activities of regional courts concer-ning Federal cases, as supported by statistical data;

(f) facilitate conditions for the education and training ofjudges and other personnel;

(g) in consultation with Regional Courts, work out waysfor improving the records management and generalpractices of Regional Courts as relating to federalcases heard thereat;

(h) submit, to the House of Peoples' Representatives,researched reports on the judicial' activities ofFederal Courts;

(i) cause the $election and publication of instructivejudgements and decisions of the year;

(j) organize the public defence office;(k) perform such other duties as may be entrusted to him

by law.

17. The Vice-President of the Federal Supreme Court

The Vice-President of the Federal Supreme Court shall:1) discharge duties to be assingd to him by the

President;2) serve in the President's stead, while he is absent.

18. Powers and Duties of the Presidents of the Federal HighCourt and First Instance Court

The Presidentof each Court shall:1) representthe court;2) , administer personnel of the Court subject to direc-

tives to be given by the President of the FederalSupreme Court;

3) cause the preparation of statements, supported bystatistical data, regarding the activities of the Court;

4) prepare and submit to the President of the FederalSupreme Court the work plan and budget of theCourt and implement same upon approval;

5) cause the selection, and sumbission to the Presidentof the Federal Supreme Court, of instructive jud-gements and decisions of the year; ,

6) submit to the President of the Federal Supreme Courtperiodic reports on the activities of the Court;

7) perform such other duties as may be entrusted to himby law.

PART SIXFederalCourtStructureand theAdministrationof Justice

19: Judges and Other Personnel of the Federal SupremeCourt

1) The Federal Supreme Court shall have a President, aVice-President and the necessary judges.

2) The Federal Supreme Court shall have the personnelnecessary for its function.

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20. DiVisions of the Federal Supreme Court

1) The Federal Supreme Court shall have:(a) a Civil Division;(b) a Criminal Division; and(c) a Labour Division.

2) There spall sit a presiding judge and two other judges,in each division.

3) The President or the Vice-President of the FederalSupreme Court may preside over any division.

21. Division with not less than Five Judges

1) The President of the Federal Supreme Court may on.his own initiative or suggestion by a division of theFederal Supreme Court or where one of the parties sopetitions direct a case to be heard by a division withnot less than five judges sitting.

2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-Article(1) of this Article, the following cases shall be heardby a division with not less than five judges sitting:

(a) cases falling under the first instance jurisdictionof the Federal Supreme Court;

(b) cases relating to a provision of law havingcaused a fundamental difference in inter-

pretation amongst divisions of the FederalSupreme Court;

(c) cases referred to under article 10 of thisProclamation, where determined that they beheard in cassation.

22, ApplicationProcedurefor Cassation1) A decisionshallbe heard in cassationby the Federal

SupremeCourt,pursuantto article 10herein,subjectto prior ruling as to the existence of fundamentalerror of law qualifying for cassation,by a divisionwherein threejudges of the Federal SupremeCourtsit.

2) Theapplicantfora hearingincassationshallstatethereasons for alleging the decision t6 contain afundamentalerror of law.

3) The applicant shall together with his applicationsubmit a copy of the decision protested and of thedecisionsof lowercourts.

4) An application for a hearing in cassation shall bemade to the Federal SupremeCourt wihtin 90 daysfromthedateonwhichthefinal d~ision protestedisrendered.

23. Divisions of the FederalHigh Courtand FirstInstanceCourt

1) The Federal High Court and the Federal FirstInstanceCourt shallhave:

(a) a CivilDivison;(b) a CriminalDivison;and(c) a LabourDivision.

2) Thereshallsit apresidingjudge andtwo otherjudges,in each division.

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24. Place of sittings

1) The Federal Supreme Court shall sit in Addis Ababa.

2) The Federal High Court and the Federal FirstInstance Court shall sit in Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa

and'in such other places as lTIay,be det~rmined inaccord'ance with Article 78 (2) of the Copstitution.

3) A Federal Court of any level may, where it finds itnecessary for the efficient rendering of justice, holdcircuit hearings in any place within the Region orarea designated for its jurisdiction.

25. Working Language of Federal Courts

1) AmParic shall be the working language of FederalCourts.

2) TheCourt shallprovidean interpreterto a partywhodoes not understandAmharic.

26. OpenHearing

1) All,cases shallbe heard in open court.

2) Notwithstandingthe provisions of sub-Article (1)hereof"and without prejudice .to procedural lawsrelevant to adjudication, cases may be heard incamera in considerationof the following:

(a) public and state safety and security: or

(b) public morality and decehcy.

27. Withdrawal of Judges

1) No judge of a Federal Court shall sit in any casewhere: .

(a) he is related to one of the parties or the advocatethereof by consanguinity or by affinity;

(b) the dispute relates to a case in which one of theparties is Ja person for whom he acted as tutor,legal representative or advocate;

(c) he' has previously acted in some capacity inconnection with the case or the subject matterof the dispute; ,

(d) he has a case pending in court with one of theparties or the advocate thereof;

(e) there are sufficient reasons, other than iliosespecified under sub-Article (1) (a) to (d)hereof, to conclude that injustice may be done.

2) The judge concerned shall withdraw as soon as he isaware that he should not sit, in accordance with sub-Article (1) hereof, and shall be replaced by anotherjudge.

28. Application for Removal of a Judge

1) Where a party to a case is of the opinion that a judgeshould not sit for one of the reasons specified inArticle 27 hereof, he shall submit a written ap- e

plication to the court requesting that the judge beremoved.

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2) The application shall be made before the trial opens orsoon after the party becomes aware of the reason formaking such an application.

3) Where the judge is sitting alone he shall, afterconsidering the 'application, either withdraw or referthe matter for decision to another division of thesame court or, where there is no other division, to thecourt in which appeal lies from the decision of hiscourt.

4) Where the judge is sitting with other judges, he shallwithdraw and the remaining judge or judges shallhear the application and give a decision thereon.

5) A decision given under sub-Articles (3) and (4)hereof shall be final and subject to no appeal.

6) Ajudge shall forthwith comply with a decision giventinder this Article.

29. Costsof Application

The costs of applicatiqnunder Article 28 hereof shallformpartofthe costsinthecase.Wherethe applicationisdismissed, however, the costs shall be borne by theapplicantirrespectiveof the outcomeof the case.

30. Penaltyfor Application Without Good Cause

Where a party.'.makesan application under Article 28hereof without good cause the court may, in addition todismissingthe application,impose a fine not exceedingBirr five hundred (500).

PART SEVEN

The Plenum of the Federal Supreme CouIt

31. Plenum of the FederalSupreme CouIt

The Federal Supreme Court shall have a FederalSupremeCourt Plenum (hereinafter"the Plenum.")

32. Members of thePlenum

I) The membersof.the Plenum shall be the President,the Vice-President and judges of the FederalSupreme Court, the Presidentsof the Federal HighCourt and the Federal First Instance Court and the.Presidentsof RegionalSupremeCourts.

2) The Minister of Justice shall participate in thesessions of the Plenum without, however, havingthe.rightto vote.

3) Judges not referred to under sub-Article (1) hereofand representativesof appropriate government of-fic~s,associations,organizations,law faculties,andscientific institutions or other individuals may beinvited to participate in the Plenum without,however,having the right to vote.

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33. Powers and Duties of the Plenum

The Plenum shall have the following powers and duties:1) to deliberate on problems encountered in the adminis-

tration of justice and work out remedies thereto;2) to examine and ~pprove directives and decisions that

help improve the judicial practices of Federal Courts;3) to submit proposals to the House of Peoples'

Representatives for the enactment of new laws or theamendment of existing ones;

4) to perform such other functions as help to make thejudiciary efficient and strong; and

5) to issue regulations necessary for the proper carryingout of its duties.

34. Working Procedure of the Plenum1) The President of the Federal Supreme Court shall be

the Chairman of the Plenum.

2) The Plenum shall designate its own Secretary.3) The Plenum shall convene once a year; additional

meetings may be called as necessary.4) Two-thirds of members of the Plenum shall constitute

a quorum. Decisions shall be adopted by a majorityvote; in case of a tie, the Chairman shall have a castingvote.

PARTEIGHTMiscellaneousProvisions

35. Decisionsand Ordersof FederalCourts

1) FederalCourtsof any levelmay order that decisionsand orders given by them be enforced by RegionalCourts.

2) Wheretwoor moreRegionalor FederalCourtsclaimor disclaim jurisdiction over a case, the FederalSupreme Court shall give the appropriate orderthereon.

36. PendingCases

Casespendingin CentralCourts as well as in the Courtsof Region 14 and Dire Dawa, prior to.the coming intoforce of this Proclamation, shall be transferred to theFederal Courts having jurisdiction pursuant toprovisionsherein.

37. RepealedandInapplicableLaws1) The Central Government Courts Establishment

ProclamationNo. 40/1993 (as amended)is herebyrepealed.

2) Any law inconsistent or dealing with mattersprovided for under this Proclamation shall beinapplicable.

I

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38. Effective Date

"., Ji"~ h'''-I:+ I +"JItlffl ~.fD"/.fDr:''''i ""'iIA" ThisProclamationshallcomeintoforceasof the 15111dayof Febroary, 1996.

Ji JiOq '''-1:+ I +,Itlfitt ~.fD Done at Addis Ababa, this 15111day of Febroary, 1996.

,./c ~;J(\.......

'J\.+f'1r1 ~'£ ..."'h~8\1'£ tTofIA.h-T~II."'+

NEGASO GIDADA (DR.)

PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

-ncn'iM,.., , ~~+ ;I-+-BERHANENA SELAM PRINTING ENTERPRICE

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