Supreme Court of Croatia


The Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia is the highest court in the country, which ensures the uniform application of laws and equal justice to all.

Judicial system

Courts protect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia as established by the Constitution and law, and provide for the uniform application of law and equal justice for all.
Administration of justice in the Republic of Croatia is carried out by:
N.B. Since July 2018 former misdemeanour courts have become specialized sections within municipal courts, also former Municipal Court in Zagreb has been divided into three courts: the Municipal Civil Court in Zagreb, the Municipal Criminal Court in Zagreb and the Municipal Labour Court in Zagreb.

Powers and responsibilities

Supreme Court basic duties:
  1. ensures the uniform application of law and equal protection of all citizens before the law,
  2. discusses all important legal issues arising from the court practice
  3. decides on extraordinary legal remedies against final decisions of all courts in the Republic of Croatia,
  4. hears appeals against decisions of county courts rendered in the first instance and, in special cases, hears appeals against decisions of county courts rendered in the second instance,
  5. hears appeals against decisions of the High Commercial Court of the Republic of Croatia, the High Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia, the High Misdemeanour Court of the Republic of Croatia and the High Criminal Court of the Republic of Croatia, and any other court when specified so by the law,
  6. decides on the conflict of jurisdiction between the courts in the territory of the Republic of Croatia when they have the same immediately superiour court,
  7. provides for the professional development of judges.

    Composition

The President of the Supreme Court is elected and relieved of duty by the Croatian Parliament at the proposal of the President of the Republic and following a prior opinion of the Parliament's Justice Committee and the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court.
Judicial office is permanent, but exceptionally, at assuming the judicial office for the first time, judges are appointed for a five-year term. After the renewal of the appointment, judges assume their duty as permanent.
All judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council and relieves them of judicial duty, as well as decides on their disciplinary responsibility.
A judge can be relieved of judicial office:
  1. at his/her own request
  2. if he/she has become permanently incapacitated to perform judicial office
  3. if sentenced for a criminal offence which makes him/her unworthy of the judicial office
  4. if, in conformity with the law, so decides the National Judicial Council due to the commitment of an act of serious infringement of discipline
  5. when reaching 70 years of age

    Presidents of the Supreme Court

No.Full name
Term beganTerm endedServiceNotes
1.Vjekoslav Vidović
12 December 199014 February 19921 year,
64 days		Went into mandatory retirement after a partial term of office.
2.Zlatko Crnić
29 March 199229 September 1992184 daysDied in a car accident during his first term.
3.Milan Vuković
1 December 19921995First term.
4.Krunislav Olujić
26 May 199519 February 19971 year,
269 days		Relieved from office by the National Judicial Council on 14 January 1997 and decision is later confirmed by the Chamber of Counties of the Croatian Parliament.
5.Milan Vuković
28 February 19971999Second term.
6.Marijan Ramušćak
10 March 19992001
7.Ivica Crnić
15 May 200115 May 20054 years,
0 days		One full term. Did not seek reelection.
8.Branko Hrvatin
19 July 200519 July 201712 years,
0 days		Three full terms.
9.Đuro Sessa
20 July 2017Incumbent ''Currently serving first term.