The people's court Law (Amended)
人民法院法（修订版）
ກົດໝາຍ ວ່າດ້ວຍສານປະຊາຊົນ (ສະບັບປັບປຸງ)
Summary
This Law stipulates the organization, jurisdiction, and fundamental principles of judicial activities of the People's Courts, aiming to safeguard judicial independence, impartial adjudication, and the correct implementation of the law. This Law applies to all levels of People's Courts nationwide and their judges, clarifying that they independently exercise judicial power in accordance with the law, free from interference by administrative organs, social organizations, or individuals. Furthermore, this Law defines relevant legal terms to unify standards in judicial practice, uphold the unity of the legal system, and preserve judicial authority.
Articles
Article 1
Article 1. Purpose
This Law defines principles, regulations, and measures regarding the organization, operation, management, inspection, and supervision of the People's Courts, in order to ensure that the Courts perform their duties with quality, efficiency, and effectiveness, enabling smooth proceedings, and swift, transparent, objective, accurate, and fair adjudication and trial of cases, aimed at protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the parties, promoting social peace, and sustained economic and social growth.
Article 2
Article 2. People's Courts
The People's Courts are judicial organs that exercise the function of adjudicating cases.
In the Lao People's Democratic Republic, only the Courts have the authority to adjudicate and try cases based on evidence, with respect for and strict adherence to the law.
Article 3
Article 3 (Amended) Interpretation of Terms
The terms used in this Law shall have the following meanings:
1. Personnel of the People’s Court: refers to the President, Vice Presidents, Chief Judges of Trial Divisions, Deputy Chief Judges of Trial Divisions, Judges, Assistant Judges, Court Clerks, Professional Staff, and Administrative Staff;
2. Court Ruling: refers to orders, rulings, judgments, and decisions of the court;
3. Court Order: refers to a type of ruling made by the court concerning litigation, such as an order for asset seizure, an order for asset freezing, an order for case suspension, an order for arrest, etc.;
4. Court Ruling: refers to a type of ruling made by the court concerning court jurisdiction, the composition of the collegial panel, non-acceptance of a case, death penalty judgments, etc.;
5. Court Judgment: refers to the judgment of a court of first instance;
6. Court Decision: refers to the judgment of an appellate court and a cassation court;
7. Parties: refers to the plaintiff and the defendant, as well as third parties in the case;
8. Other Defenders: refers to lawyers, representatives of organizations, spouses, parents, guardians, or close relatives who participate in the proceedings by mandate or by law to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the accused or defendant, the victim, the civil plaintiff, or the civilly liable person;
9. Lawyer: refers to a person who is duly appointed to participate in the proceedings to provide legal assistance and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the parties;
10. Court Summons: refers to a document issued by the court summoning the plaintiff, defendant, third party, witnesses, and other participants in the proceedings to appear in court on the date and at the place specified in the summons;
11. Court Precedent: refers to judgments made by the Supreme People’s Court on matters where legal provisions are unclear in criminal cases, and on civil, commercial, labor, administrative, family, and juvenile cases where the law does not provide or provides unclear provisions, serving as a basis for compliance and implementation by People’s Courts at all levels;
12. Court Clerk: refers to a person appointed to assist the collegial panel, responsible for organizing and managing case files, recording statements, preparing and recording trial transcripts, and other tasks assigned by the collegial panel;
13. Final and Binding Judgment: refers to a court judgment or decision where the plaintiff, defendant, or third party has not filed an appeal or application for cassation, or the People’s Procuratorate has not filed a protest, as well as the cassation decisions of the Regional People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Court.
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