| Court Name: | Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia |
| Established: | 1886 |
| Jurisdiction: | Colombia |
| Location: | Bogotá |
| Type: | Nominated by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, elected by the Supreme Court of Justice. |
| Authority: | Constitution of Colombia |
| Terms: | non-renewable 8 years |
| Positions: | 23, by statute |
| Chiefjudgetitle: | President of the Supreme Court of Justice |
| Chiefjudgename: | Luis Antonio Hernández Barbosa |
| Termstart: | 21 January 2021 |
| Chiefjudgetitle2: | Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice |
| Termstart2: | 21 January 2021 |
The Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia (Spanish; Castilian: Corte Suprema de Justicia de Colombia) in Bogotá is the highest judicial body in civil and penal matters and issues of criminal and civil procedure in Colombia.[1]
The court consists of twenty three judges, elected by the same institution in list conformed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary for individual terms of eight years. The court meets at the Palace of Justice in the Bolívar Square of Bogotá.
After the Colombian first declaration of independence from Spain on 20 July 1810, a number of independent States like Tunja (1811), Antioquia (1812), Cartagena de Indias (1812) and Cundinamarca (1812) were established. Each State had its own body in charge of the administration of justice. Later, when these States established the (United Provinces of New Granada), on 23 September 1814, the (High Tribunal of Justice) was established. In 1819, the Republic of Colombia (the Gran Colombia) was born. A Court was created according to the provisions its Constitution of 30 August 1821, named (High Court of Justice). In 1830, the Gran Colombia was dissolved and the Republic of New Granada was formed. As per the provisions of its Constitution of 29 February 1832, the (Supreme Court of Justice) was established. On 20 May 1853, it became the (Supreme Court of the Nation). In 1858, the Grenadine Confederation was founded. On adoption of its Constitution of 22 May 1858, the (Supreme Court) became the body in charge of the administration of justice. In 1863, the Grenadine Confederation was replaced by the (United States of Colombia). On adoption of its Constitution of 8 May 1863, the (Supreme Federal Court) was established. Finally, after the establishment of the (Republic of Colombia) and on adoption of its Constitution of 4 August 1886, the body was renamed as the present, the (Supreme Court of Justice) on 3 September 1886. Its first President was Rito Antonio Martínez.
In 1985 in the Palace of Justice siege, members of the M-19 guerrilla group took over the Palace of Justice, and held the Supreme Court hostage, intending to put President Belisario Betancur on trial. Hours later, after a military raid, the incident left all the rebels and 11 of the 25 Supreme Court Justices dead.