The Dominican Republic Courts of Appeal know, appeals to judgments, in accordance with the law; in the first instance of criminal cases to trial judges or their equivalents; tax attorneys, holders of organs and autonomous and decentralized state, provincial governors, mayors of the National District and the municipalities; and, other matters specified by law.
There will be the Courts of First Instance or equivalent to the number of judges and territorial jurisdiction determined by law.
Courts First Instance of the relevant judicial districts to the National District, Santiago, La Vega, Duarte, Puerto Plata, Barahona, San Juan, San Cristóbal, El Seibo, San Pedro de Macorís, La Romana, Valverde, Espaillat and Monte Cristi they are divided into chambers.
The law determines the number of Justices of the Peace and their equivalents, powers, territorial jurisdiction and how they will be organized.
To be appointed judge of the Judiciary, every candidate must undergo a public competitive examination system by joining the National Judicial College to be established by the law and have successfully passed the training program of the school.