juzgado

Juzgado is a term used in civil law jurisdictions to denote a court or judicial division tasked with hearing and deciding cases within a specified area of law. It can refer to the court as an institution or to the physical building housing the court. The word derives from the verb juzgar, to judge, from Latin iudicare.

In Spain, the judiciary is organized with juzgados serving as the lowest tier of courts in many matters. Each court handles different subject-matter jurisdictions within a territorial division known as a partido judicial. Juzgados de Paz exist for local, minor matters, while other juzgados, such as de Primera Instancia e Instrucción and de lo Penal, address civil, criminal, and other issues according to the applicable law.

In Latin American countries, the term operates similarly, designating courts of first instance or local courts within the public judicial system. Types may include civil, penal, laboral (labor), or familiar juzgados, depending on national law, with decisions subject to appeal to higher tribunals.

The function of a juzgado includes receiving pleadings, conducting hearings, admitting evidence, and issuing judgments or sentences. Judges preside in these courts, applying applicable statutory law and precedent. Access to juzgados is a basic element of due process and is typically regulated by procedural codes. The term also commonly refers to the courthouse itself, separate from the judging authority housed within.