The judiciary of Venezuela is a branch of the government of Venezuela that interprets and applies the laws of Venezuela, to ensure equal justice under law, and to provide a mechanism for dispute resolution. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, whose 32 justices ("magistrados") are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term. The legal system of Venezuela is based on the continental law tradition. Venezuela was the first country in the world to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, doing so in 1863.
Criticisms
Venezuela's judicial system has been deemed the most corrupt in the world by Transparency International. Human Rights Watch claims that some judges may face reprisals if they rule against government interests. According to a 2014 Gallup poll, 61% of Venezuelan's lack confidence in the judicial system.