Panama · Overview
The legal system of Panama
A civil-law system distinguished by a dollarised economy, a constitutionally autonomous Panama Canal Authority, and a large offshore corporate and shipping registry. The Supreme Court exercises a wide-ranging guarantee jurisdiction: it hears amparo, habeas corpus and the objection of unconstitutionality directly, and any citizen may ask it to void a statute.
Legal tradition
Panama belongs to the civil law tradition. A civil-law system distinguished by a dollarised economy, a constitutionally autonomous Panama Canal Authority, and a large offshore corporate and shipping registry. The Supreme Court exercises a wide-ranging guarantee jurisdiction: it hears amparo, habeas corpus and the objection of unconstitutionality directly, and any citizen may ask it to void a statute.
How power is divided
Unitary, with ten provinces and five indigenous comarcas. The comarcas — Guna Yala, Emberá-Wounaan, Ngäbe-Buglé, Guna de Madugandí and Guna de Wargandí — hold recognised collective land title and internal authority.
Where law comes from
- Constitution
- Supreme, with Title XIV governing the canal.
- Statutes of the National Assembly
- Single chamber of 71 deputies.
- Codes
- Civil Code 1917, Labour Code 1971, Judicial Code 1987, Tax Code 1956.
- Supreme Court doctrine
- Three concordant plenary rulings on the same point become binding doctrina probable.
The legal profession
Practice requires a Panamanian law degree and a licence from the Supreme Court; the Colegio Nacional de Abogados is influential but membership is voluntary. Only Panamanian lawyers may appear in court, which is why offshore work is routinely structured through local counsel.
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