The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in matters within the courts’ jurisdiction in civil and criminal proceedings. Its Panels decide on extraordinary remedies, except for matters that fall within the competence of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Administrative Court.
Extraordinary remedies are extraordinary appeals against decisions of courts of second instance and complaints on the violation of the law which can be filed in criminal cases by the Minister of Justice. The Supreme Court decides, in cases prescribed by law, also on the determination of the local and subject-matter jurisdiction of the courts, recognition of foreign decisions, review of wiretapping orders and in case of doubts about immunity from the jurisdiction of the law enforcement authorities.
Since 21 December 2024, pursuant to an amendment to Act No 7/2002 Coll., on Proceedings in Matters Concerning Judges, Prosecutors and Bailiffs, the Supreme Court has become the second-instance disciplinary court for appeals in disciplinary matters involving judges.
The Supreme Court plays a vital role in unifying case law. It achieves this by deciding on extraordinary appeals and issuing Opinions on a uniform interpretation of the law. The most important decisions of the Supreme Court, or lower instance courts, and Opinions of the Divisions or Plenary Session of the Supreme Court, are published in the Collection of Decisions and Opinions of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court is responsible for receiving and recording notifications of activities, assets, income, and obligations of judges of the Czech Republic. The recorded notifications are confidential.