We refer to the Legal Dictionary where the definition of jurisdictional bodies appears . We remember that they are in charge of resolving conflicts through the process of interpreting and applying the Law. Those in charge of this are the judges and magistrates.
Judges and magistrates are part of the following courts and tribunals:
The courts are single-person bodies, headed by a single judge or magistrate.
The courts are collegiate bodies, that is, they are made up of a group of judges.
Article 26 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary classifies the job seekers database courts and tribunals that have been assigned the jurisdictional function. Article 26 LOPJ
Classification of jurisdictional bodies
Hierarchical criterion
This is a hierarchical pyramid made up of two branches. Both have in common that at the top is the Supreme Court as the hierarchical superior. At the base of both pyramids are the jurisdictional bodies with a lower hierarchy and which deal with simpler matters.
The specific number of jurisdictional bodies at each level is determined by law. There are bodies that are unique, such as the Supreme Court. There are also jurisdictional bodies that are complex: they are made up of chambers, divided into subject matters. Complex bodies are always courts, but not all courts are complex. For example, the High Courts of Justice, the National Court or the Supreme Court are complex and courts. On the other hand, the Provincial Court is a court but it is not a complex body.
Pyramid number one:
Jurisdictional bodies
On the first level: there is the Justice of the Peace Court*, this court is the only one and it depends hierarchically on the Court of First Instance and Instruction. The second level is made up of several jurisdictional bodies. They are single-judge courts and are all at the same level.
On the third level there is a single jurisdictional body, the hierarchical superior of all the courts on the second level. The Provincial Court is a court and therefore a collegiate body. On the fourth level there is a single jurisdictional body, the High Court of Justice: a collegiate body. And finally, at the top is the Supreme Court: the absolute superior jurisdictional body in ordinary matters. It is a collegiate body.
Pyramid number two:
Jurisdictional bodies
The second hierarchical pyramid, which is not related to the previous one, is formed by the central courts, which are single-person bodies and their hierarchical superior is the National Court, a collegiate body, since it is a court. At the top of this pyramid is also the Supreme Court, since, as we have said before, it is the absolute hierarchical superior of both branches.
Material criterion
This criterion is used to classify the jurisdictional bodies based on the branch of law they apply to resolve conflicts. It is known as jurisdictional orders and there are four:
Civil jurisdiction: it will apply matters of private law, and it is also an attractive jurisdiction, that is, it will hear any matter that is not assigned to another jurisdiction.
Contentious-administrative jurisdictional order: will apply the subject matter of Administrative Law.
Social jurisdictional order: will apply the subject matter of labor law.
Territorial criterion
It delimits the territorial scope in which a jurisdictional body can resolve conflicts.
Courts with jurisdiction throughout the national territory: the Supreme Court, the National Court and the Central Courts.
Courts with jurisdiction in an autonomous community: High Court of Justice.