Nicaragua - Judicial system

At the head of the judicial branch is the Supreme Court in Managua whose justices are appointed by the National Assembly for six-year terms. The Supreme Court consists of 12 judges and has administrative, criminal, civil, and constitutional matters divisions.

The judicial system consists of both civilian and military courts. Military courts investigate, prosecute and try crimes committed by or against the police or armed forces. Therefore, the military courts have jurisdiction over citizens involved in security-related offenses. In a controversial 1993 decision, a military court exercised jurisdiction to convict a former member of the EPS (Sandinista Popular Army).