Client Bulletin

Russian President signs law establishing a new Supreme Court of the Russian Federation

On 6 February 2014 President Vladimir Putin signed three laws that merged the Supreme Court and the Supreme Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation. Details are reported at the President's official website, www.kremlin.ru. The new laws are:

• Law of the Russian Federation on the Amendment to the Constitution “On the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and on the Prosecutor Office of the Russian Federation”
• Federal Constitutional Law “On the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation” 
• Federal Constitutional Law “On the Judicial System of the Russian Federation”

These laws complete the formation of the newly created Supreme Court of the Russian Federation as one of the highest judicial bodies for civil, criminal, and administrative cases, as well as for economic disputes and for other cases that are within jurisdiction of the courts. The new Supreme Court will exercise judicial supervision over the activities of both courts of general jurisdiction and arbitration courts.

The former Supreme Arbitrazh Court is being abolished, and execution of its rulings has been transferred to the jurisdiction of the new Supreme Court.

The Federal Constitutional Law “On the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation” provides authorities and rules for the establishment and operation of the new Supreme Court, and also resolves issues about functions of the “former” Supreme Court and the Supreme Arbitrazh Court during the transitional period, which will last for six months.

The new Supreme Court will consist of 170 judges. The new laws also establish the Judges Board on Economic Disputes of the Supreme Court. It also replaces:

• the former Military Collegium of the Supreme Court with a new Judicial Board on Military Service Cases of the Supreme Court; and
• the former Disciplinary Tribunal with the new Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court.

The Federal Constitutional Laws “On the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation” and “On the Judicial System of the Russian Federation” will come into force 180 days after the date of of the official publication of the Law of the Russian Federation on the Amendment to the Constitution “On the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Prosecutor Office of the Russian Federation.” A number of provisions relating to the composition and formation of personnel of the Supreme Court will take effect at the date of the adoption of the Law of the Russian Federation on the Amendment to the Constitution. Some provisions concerning the termination of certain powers of judges following the merger of the two courts will will come into force on 15 February 2014.