Supreme Court of Monaco

Monaco's Supreme Court was established by the constitution of January 5, 1911, granted by Prince Albert I following the Monegasque Revolution and prepared by internationally renowned French jurists and internationalists (including Louis Renault, André Weiss, Jules Roche).

The high court could thus only rule on appeals having as their object an infringement of the rights and freedoms enshrined in Title III of the Constitution, under the conditions provided for in Article 14.

The Constitution of December 17, 1962 establishes the independence of the Monegasque justice system and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

In July 2017, during its 4th evaluation cycle, the Council of Europe and the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) underline “the excellent working conditions of judges and prosecutors in Monaco” and the “development of judicial infrastructures for a country of this size”.

In practice, these are French lawyers, who are, for example, professors of public law, members of the Council of State or of the Court of Cassation.

[6] The Rules of Procedure of the National Council and their possible modifications are systematically checked by the Supreme Court before their entry into force.

[7] The time limit for litigation (in administrative or constitutional matters) is two months from either the completion of the regular publicity formalities (notification, service, or publication of the act or the contested decision), or from the date where the fact on which the action is based was known to the person concerned.

[5] The appeal before the Supreme Court must be lodged by a request containing, in addition to the contested decision, the statement of facts, the means and the conclusions; and must be signed by a lawyer registered with the bar of the Principality.

The administration has two months to present a counter-request signed by a lawyer-defender and filed with the General Registry against receipt.

At the end of the exchange of written submissions, the Chief Registrar closes the proceedings and the President sets the date for the hearing.

The police of the hearings belongs to the President who has all the powers to ensure the serenity of the debates including that of requesting the public force.

After the parties have been called by the bailiff, the President gives the floor to the rapporteur who sums up the facts, the means and the conclusions without opening an opinion.

The Tribunal's decision is read in open court, after deliberation in the Council Chamber, no later than the fortnight following the proceedings.