SECOND.
In the second instance, of the cases corresponding in the first instance to the Courts of Appeal, or to one member of the Supreme Court. One member of the court, according to the turn established by the court itself, judges in the first, including accusations and civil claims against one or more members of the Court of Appeals, to make effective their criminal or civil responsibility, and of the capture of prizes, extradition, and other cases to be judged according to international law.
Ministers of the Supreme Court, Ministers of the Courts of Appeal and Judges of Letters are appointed for an indefinite period, subject to good behavior. Judges of Subdelegations and of Districts are named for a term of two years.
The Supreme Court is composed of ten ministers. Judges of the Supreme Court and of the Courts of Appeal are named by the President. The high court prepares a list of persons possessing the necessary qualifications, which is presented to the Consejo de Estado (Council of State). From this list the Council selects three names, which are submitted to the President, and from which he may choose whoever he pleases. In the appointment of a Judge of Letters, the Judges of the Courts of Appeal, in whose jurisdiction the vacancy exists, prepare a list of fifteen persons who have the necessary qualifications and send it to the Consejo de Estado, which prepares therefrom a list of three, from which the President names the judge.
Judges of Subdelegations and Districts are named by the governors of the respective provinces, from lists of competent persons prepared by the Judges of Letters within their jurisdiction.