President Of The Court Of Appeal To Be Sworn In Tomorrow

Presidência da República - Gabinete do Presidente - June 11th, 2007

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 12th, at 09.30, H.E. President Dr. José Ramos-Horta will swear in the President of the Court of Appeal, Dr. Cláudio de Jesus Ximenes, at the Official Residence of President of Republic, Salão Nobre in Lahane, Dili.

Dr. Cláudio de Jesus Ximenes, an East Timorese born in Ermera with 21 years of experience as a judge in Portugal, will be officially reappointed as a Judge and President of the Court of Appeal, the highest judicial authority in the country. He is also the President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Magistrature.

The Court of Appeal is currently the highest judicial organ in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and has complete jurisdiction in the whole country. It is an independent body, charged with making the final decisions on all judicial matters, including decisions on constitutional-juridical and electoral matters. The Court's decisions overrule the decisions of any other authority in the country.

"After wide consultations with political parties, church and civil society, I thought that at this time the reappointment of Dr. Claudio Ximenes was the appropriate decision to make, President Ramos-Horta said.

Immediately following the ceremony, the President of the Republic, the President of Parliament, the Prime Minister and the President of the Court of Appeal will hold a joint press conference. Only media personnel accredited with the Office of the President will be allowed access at the Salão Nobre in Lahane, Dili.