Claudio de Jesus Ximenes

Cláudio de Jesus Ximenes (* in Ermera / Portuguese Timor ) was from 2003 to February 26, 2014 President of the Tribunal de Recurso de Timor- Leste (Court of Appeal ), East Timor's highest court. He was the first judge in this office. His term was extended by the President twice, until February 10, Ximenes submitted his resignation, which was accepted by Taur Matan Ruak President on February 26. As president of the appeal court Ximenes was also ex officio president of the Superior Council of the Judiciary. Prior to his work in East Timor Ximenes was 14 years a judge in Portugal and then judge at the UN administration of East Timor.

In October 2013, the opposition party FRETILIN called for in the National Parliament of East Timor the dismissal of Ximenes, after Parliament had confirmed an investigation on suspicion of lack of impartiality towards Ximenes. The Tribunal de Recurso had allowed this in August, after the prosecution had filed an appeal, because of the conviction of former Justice Minister Lucia Lobato to five years in prison. Ximenes was involved in transactions with Lobato. He advocated a habeas corpus in the case Lobatos after their arrest on January 23, 2013, which saw Ximenes illegal. The other two judges of the Court, Guilhermino da Silva and Geraldo Deolindo Orlando Cid dos Santos, but rejected the appeal. Ximenes now submitted his resignation on the grounds that he did not conflict with his duties with personal interests.

Successor of Ximenes was Guilhermino da Silva.