GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
LEGAL AUTHORITY
Article V of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico dated July 25, 1952 states that the Judicial Power is exerted through a Supreme Court and those courts established by the laws of Puerto Rico. Act No. 201 of August 22, 2003, as amended known as the Judiciary Law of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 2003, established the General Court of Justice.
MISSION
Dispense justice; resolve cases, controversies and conflicts presented for consideration, with independence, diligence, sensibility and impartiality, while guaranteeing the people's constitutional rights and liberties.
VISION
The Judicial Branch will be accessible to any person, is diligent in adjudicating matters, sensitive to social problems, innovative in providing service, committed to excellence in administration and human resources, and deserving of the confidence of the people.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The following organizational units compose the General Court of Justice:
- Office for the Administration of the Courts
- Court of Appeals
- Court of First Instance
- Supreme Court
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
The Supreme Court is located on Ponce de Len Avenue, Stop 8, Puerta de Tierra, in San Juan. The Court of Appeals is located on No. 675 Csar Gonzlez Street corner Jess T. Pieiro Avenue, in San Juan. The Office for the Administration of the Courts is located at No. 677, Csar Gonzlez Street corner Jess T. Pieiro Avenue, in San Juan. The Court of First Instance has thirteen (13) regional seats, located in the judicial centers of the following municipalities: Aguadilla, Aibonito, Arecibo, Bayamn, Caguas, Carolina, Fajardo, Guayama, Humacao, Mayaguez, Ponce, San Juan y Utuado. Also, each judicial region has peripheral or satellite courts.
PROGRAMMATIC STRUCTURE
POSITIONS FILLED
| Authorized and Proposed Positions | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Sept./08 | Sept./09 | Sept./10 | Feb./11 | Proj. | |
| |||||
| Total amount of positions | 5,422 | 5,449 | 5,616 | 5,646 | 5,656 |
PROGRAM
Judicial Systems Administration
Program Description
The judicial power of Puerto Rico resides in a unified system framed within its jurisdiction, function and administration. This program processes criminal or civil cases that require intervention from the judicial system. It is the judicial system that determines the constitutionality of a law.
Human Resources
| Authorized and Proposed Positions | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff | 754 | 771 | 790 | 791 |
| Judges, Lawyers, and Legal Staff | 2,825 | 2,787 | 2,884 | 2,920 |
| Other staff | 630 | 646 | 657 | 658 |
| Other Safety and Protection Staff | 861 | 893 | 918 | 920 |
| Planning, Budget, Statistics, Auditing, and Finance | 113 | 111 | 115 | 115 |
| Families and Community Services Staff | 200 | 198 | 211 | 211 |
| Health Services | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Information Systems | 28 | 31 | 29 | 29 |
| Total, Positions | 5,422 | 5,449 | 5,616 | 5,656 |
The adopted consolidated budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 ascends to $347,443,000. The funds include: $327,944,000 from Special Appropriations - General Fund, $3,500,000 from State Special Funds, $1,021,000 from Federal Grants, $14,819,000 from Loans & Issuance and $159,000 from the Federal Economic Stimulus (ARRA).
The Federal Grants originate from the following subsidies: Violence Against Women Formula Grants and State Court Improvement Grant. These appropriations allow the Judicial Branch to comply with strategies directed toward services to victims of domestic violence. Equally, the judicial processes will continue to be made more agile without affecting the rights of the parties in the management of cases of abuse and negligence against minors. The State Special Funds are generated by collection of fees and notarial taxes.
The Court's Administration Office will provide the Legislative Assembly the specific information about the use of appropriated funds as is consistent with the budget autonomy that the Judicial Branch possesses.
As an exception, of the total amount of $342,763,000 corresponding to the Judicial Branch for fiscal year 2011-2012 under the formula authorized by Act No. 282 of December 20, 2002, as amended, the amount of $14,819,000 will come from authorized financing to the Judicial Branch. For fiscal years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, the Judicial Branch will receive the amount of $5,000,000 and $9,814,000 respectively, to cover the financing debt service. These resources will be in addition to the appropriation by formula.
SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES
| Consolidated Budget (thousands $) | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| ||||
| Program | ||||
| Operational Expenses | Actual | Actual | Budget | Adopted |
| Judicial Systems Administration | 349,069 | 348,972 | 352,758 | 347,443 |
| Subtotal, Operational Expenses | 349,069 | 348,972 | 352,758 | 347,443 |
| Subsidies, Incentives and Donations | ||||
| Judicial Systems Administration | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Subtotal, Subsidies, Incentives and Donations | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Total, Program | 349,069 | 348,976 | 352,762 | 347,443 |
| Funding Sources | ||||
| Operational Expenses | ||||
| Special Appropriations - General Fund | 347,944 | 347,940 | 347,940 | 327,944 |
| Federal Grants | 1,125 | 614 | 1,141 | 1,021 |
| Loans & Bond Issuance | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14,819 |
| State Special Funds | 0 | 418 | 3,500 | 3,500 |
| Federal Economic Stimulus - ARRA | 0 | 0 | 177 | 159 |
| Subtotal, Operational Expenses | 349,069 | 348,972 | 352,758 | 347,443 |
| Subsidies, Incentives and Donations | ||||
| Special Appropriations - General Fund | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Subtotal, Subsidies, Incentives and Donations | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Total, Funding Sources | 349,069 | 348,976 | 352,762 | 347,443 |
| Expense Category | ||||
| Operational Expenses | ||||
| Payroll and Related Expenses | 232,445 | 230,379 | 237,782 | 239,726 |
| Rent and Utilities | 19,234 | 19,048 | 21,046 | 20,286 |
| Purchased Services | 55,165 | 55,548 | 56,241 | 46,395 |
| Donations, Subsidies, and Distributions | 40 | 23 | 189 | 193 |
| Transportation Expenses | 1,544 | 1,272 | 1,702 | 1,805 |
| Professional Services | 15,324 | 16,001 | 16,347 | 12,789 |
| Other Expenses | 4,444 | 4,868 | 4,913 | 890 |
| Non Distributed Allocations | 2,465 | 12,069 | 5,608 | 18,352 |
| Previous Years Debt Payments | 6,449 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment Purchases | 7,973 | 6,426 | 5,102 | 3,674 |
| Office Supplies and other Materials | 3,908 | 3,249 | 3,685 | 3,190 |
| Advertising and Media Expenses | 78 | 89 | 143 | 143 |
| Subtotal, Operational Expenses | 349,069 | 348,972 | 352,758 | 347,443 |
| Subsidies, Incentives and Donations | ||||
| Contributions to Non Governmental Entities | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Subtotal, Subsidies, Incentives and Donations | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Total, Expense Category | 349,069 | 348,976 | 352,762 | 347,443 |