The power of all three branches is shared and intertwined. The President, head of the executive branch, nominates members to the Supreme Court of Justice (Conniff, 2002). Those nominees must be ratified by the legislature (Conniff, 2002). If so, they serve office for a period of 10 years (Conniff, 2002). Within the judicial branch itself, there are five Superior Courts, three Appellate Courts and other tribunals such as Municipal Courts (Conniff, 2002).

There are five Superior Courts in the Republic of Panama; Family Courts, Minor Courts, Maritime Courts, Boards of Conciliation and Decision and of course the Supreme Court (AAM, 1). Beginn

ing with the Family Courts, this court is based in the capital of each province and has jurisdiction over adoption related topics as well as divorce proceedings (AAM, 1). Then, there are Minor Courts, which, as it’s name obviously points out, “has jurisdiction over offenses committed by minors up to 18 years of age” (AAM, 1). Next, there are Boards of Conciliation and Decision. This court has complete jurisdiction in Panama as well as handling law suits claiming labour benefits under $1,500 and case dismissals (AAM, 2). Another superior court is the Maritime Court created by law 8 of March 1982 and ratified by law 11 of May 23, 1986 (AAM, 2). These courts, as the name suggests, has jurisdiction over areas concerning maritime commerce and traffic within Panama (AAM, 2). Maritime Courts also handle “claims arising elsewhere form maritime commerce and traffic when actions are filed against a ve

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