Anything Under the Sun
Spanish era administration of justice (2)
The Judiciary
At the bottom of the judicial ladder was the justice of the peace court in the pueblo (town) chaired by the gobernadorcillo (equivalent of the present mayor). It had jurisdiction over petty criminal cases with penalty of not more than ten days imprisonment or a fine of not more than five pesos.
Next up the ladder was the Court of First Instance in the alcaldia (province) presided by the alcalde mayor (equivalent of the present governor). It dealt on appeals from the justice of the peace courts and grave criminal cases and civil cases involving big amounts.
The next step above was the collegial Real Audiencia in Manila which entertained appealed cases from the Courts for First Instance and was presided by the Governor General . This was the highest court in the colony and was created in the Philippines in 1565.
Incidentally, Raymundo Melliza, an Ilonggo lawyer -- a graduate of the University of Madrid, was an oidor (justice) of the Real Audiencia.
However, its decisions could still be appealed to the Council of the Indies in Seville, Spain. In turn, the decisions of this Council was still appealable to the King of Spain -- the absolute ruler.
There were also special courts such as the ecclesiastical courts for the religious, army and navy courts for the military, commercial courts for the mechants de residencia which tried former colonial officials for action done during the incumbencies.
There was also the Department of Prosecution tasked with prosecution of the accused in criminal cases and also represent the government in civil cases when the latter was a party thereto.