Court of Cassation (Greece)

The Areopagus or Arios Pagos ( Greek: Άρειος πάγος, Arios Pagos ) is the supreme court of civil and criminal jurisdiction in Greece.

History

The Supreme Court of the Areopagus takes its name from the competent authority in ancient Athens for the punishment of homicides Supreme Court, the 1500-1300 BC during the reign of Cecrops and Theseus on the " Areshügel " ( ancient Greek Ἄρειος πάγος Arios Pagos ) had been a rocky hill northwest of the Acropolis established. However, its jurisdiction crossed by 462 largely on the existing judges selected from 6000 BC Heliaia and to the People's Assembly.

Until the early Christian period the prestige of the Supreme Court, however, remained unbroken.

After the founding of the modern Greek state, the Supreme Court of the free Greek state was created and officially designated by the name of the ancient Areopagus Court on October 16, 1834 by royal decree. He took in January 1835 his work. The first decision was adopted on April 30, 1835 and published on 1 May 1835.

Building

Until 1981, the Supreme Court in the " Iliou Melathron " was (Palace of Ilion, ie Troy) housed one originally built by architect Ernst Ziller as the residence of Heinrich Schliemann palace in the center of Athens.

The current courthouse on Alexandras Avenue was inaugurated on 23 February 1981. The facade bears the inscription " Themidos MELATHRON ", Palace of Themis. Themis was, according to mythology, the daughter of Uranus and the wife of Zeus, embodied the divine justice and order, and was the protector of the oppressed.

Occupation

At the Areopagus today are the President, the Prosecutor, the Vice- President, Judges and the deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court operates. The members of the Supreme Court enjoy how all the judges functional and personal independence. They are appointed for life and must upon reaching the age of 67 do not necessarily retire from the service (Article 87 § 1 and 88 § 1 and 5 of the Constitution).

Organization and tasks

The Areopagus decides by six civil departments, the cases of private law ( contract law, trade, inheritance, mortgage, employment, etc.) treat through three criminal departments as well as by the plenary.

As the Supreme Court of the Areopagus not verified the factual findings of the lower courts. With the revision (Greek αίτηση αναιρέσεως ), the appeal to the appeal to the Areopagus, the review of the legal correctness of the impugned decision of the lower court is requested.

The Supreme Court is to ensure, through its decisions that are respected by the courts for the uniform treatment of similar cases, the uniformity of case law in the interpretation and application of laws.

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