Editing Politics of Kazakhstan (section)

==Judicial branch==

There are 65 judges on the [[Supreme Court of Kazakhstan]]. There are seven members of the Constitutional Council. Out of the 7 members, 3 are appointed by the president.

There are local and [[oblast]] (regional) level courts, and a national-level Supreme Court. Local level courts serve as courts of first instance for less serious crimes such as [[theft]] and [[vandalism]]. Oblast level courts hear more serious criminal cases and also hear cases in rural areas where no local courts have been established.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Alexei Trochev |year=2017 |title=Between convictions and reconciliations: Processing criminal cases in Kazakhstani courts |journal=Cornell International Law Journal |volume= 50|url=https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/research/ILJ/upload/Trochev-final.pdf|access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref> A judgment by a local court may be appealed to the oblast level. The [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]] is a cassation court that hears appeals from the oblast courts.

The constitution establishes a seven-member Constitutional Council to determine the constitutionality of laws adopted by the [[legislature]]. It also rules on challenges to elections and [[referendums]] and interprets the constitution. The president appoints three of its members, including the chair.

Under constitutional amendments of 1998, the president appoints a chairperson of a Higher Judicial Council, which nominates judges for the Supreme Court. The Council consists of the chairperson of the Constitutional Council, the chairperson of the Supreme Court, the [[Attorney general|Prosecutor General]], the [[Minister of Justice]], senators, judges, and other persons appointed by the president. The president recommends and the Senate (upper legislative chamber) approves these nominees for the Supreme Court. Oblast judges (nominated by the Higher Judicial Council) are appointed by the president. Lower level judges are appointed by the president from a list presented by the Higher Judicial Council. Under legislation approved in 2000, judges serve for life.<ref>{{cite web|last=Republic of Kazakhstan|first=Embassy|title=Kazakhstan Democracy|url=http://www.kazakhembus.com/page/kazakhstan-democracy|access-date=2 April 2014}}</ref>