First Instance Courts

The Administrative Chambers shall hear, at first or sole instance, judicial review proceedings in relation to the acts expressly assigned to them by Article 8 of Law 29/1998, of 13 July, governing the Contentious-Administrative Jurisdiction, including, among others, civil service matters, administrative penalties consisting of fines not exceeding certain amounts, closures of activities, claims for State liability, decisions in immigration matters, etc.

They are also responsible for authorising, by court order, entry into homes and other buildings or places whose access requires the consent of the holder, where such entry is necessary for the compulsory enforcement of administrative acts, except in cases relating to the enforcement of child protection measures adopted by the competent public authority.

Likewise, these Chambers have jurisdiction to authorise entry into homes and other constitutionally protected places when such measure has been agreed by the Tax Administration in a tax action or tax application procedure, even before its formal commencement, whenever access requires the holder's consent and the holder objects or there are reasonable grounds to believe that opposition will occur.

As a general rule, there shall be an Administrative Chamber in the First Instance Court seated in the capital city of each province, with jurisdiction over the whole provincial territory.

When the volume of cases so requires, Administrative Chambers may be created in First Instance Courts seated in towns other than the provincial capital, with the territorial scope of their jurisdiction being defined in each case. Exceptionally, Administrative Chambers may also be established with jurisdiction over more than one province within the same autonomous community. (Article 93 of the Organic Law on the Judiciary)

For more information, visit the website of the General Council of the Judiciary, where you can find updated official information on judicial bodies in Spain.