Belgian Legal System: Actors, Courts, and Judicial Proceedings

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key legal actors, court types, judicial jurisdictions, and procedural terms in the Belgian legal system.

Judge

A person who hears cases, considers the evidence and makes legal decisions.

Lay judge

A non-professional judge who contributes specific knowledge or experience to the court.

Counsel / Lawyer

A legal professional who advises and represents a party.

Prosecutor

A legal official who brings and conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the public.

Public prosecutor’s office

The public authority responsible for prosecuting criminal offences and representing the public interest in criminal proceedings.

Magistrate

A general term for certain judicial officials, including judges and members of the public prosecutor’s office.

Court registry

The administrative office that supports the court and handles case documents.

Bailiff / Judicial officer

A legal officer who formally serves documents and may enforce court decisions.

Expert / Court-appointed expert

A specialist who provides professional knowledge or an expert report to assist the court.

Witness

A person who gives evidence about facts relevant to a case.

Party

A person or organisation involved in legal proceedings.

Claimant / Plaintiff

The party who brings a civil claim before a court.

Defendant

The party against whom a civil claim is brought.

Accused / Defendant

A person formally accused of committing a criminal offence and required to answer the accusation before a court.

Suspect

A person believed to have committed a criminal offence and who may be investigated.

Victim

A person who has suffered harm as a result of an alleged or established criminal offence.

Civil party

A victim who formally joins criminal proceedings to claim compensation for harm suffered.

Injured party

A person who has suffered harm as a result of an offence and has the relevant procedural status under the law.

Intervening party

A third party who joins existing proceedings to protect their own rights or interests.

Appellant

The party who challenges a first-instance decision by lodging an appeal.

Respondent

The party against whom an appeal is brought.

Justice of the Peace Court

A court that deals with certain minor civil disputes, often involving neighbours, leases or small claims.

Police Court

A court that mainly deals with traffic offences and certain minor criminal offences.

Court of First Instance

A court that hears cases at first instance and includes several specialised divisions.

Labour Court

A court that deals with disputes concerning employment and social security.

Commercial Court

A court that deals with many disputes involving businesses and commercial activities.

Civil Court / Civil Division

A court or division that deals with disputes between private parties.

Criminal Court

A court that deals with criminal offences within its jurisdiction.

Family Court

A court that deals with family-related disputes, such as divorce and parental responsibility.

Juvenile Court

A court that deals with cases involving minors, including certain youth offences and protective measures.

Sentence Enforcement Court

A court that decides on certain matters concerning the enforcement or adjustment of criminal sentences.

Court of Appeal

A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts when an appeal is allowed.

Employment Appeal Tribunal

A court that hears appeals against decisions of the Labour Court.

Court of Assizes

A court that tries certain serious criminal offences, with a jury participating in the decision on guilt.

Court of Cassation

Belgium’s highest court in the ordinary judicial hierarchy. It reviews the legality of challenged decisions but does not retry the facts.

Constitutional Court

A court that reviews whether legislation complies with the Belgian Constitution, within its jurisdiction.

Council of State

A body that provides legal advice on draft legislation and reviews certain decisions of public authorities.

Court of Audit

An institution that audits public finances and checks how public funds are managed.

Court clerk

An official who assists the judge, records procedural information and ensures that the official record of the hearing or proceedings is kept.

Defence lawyer

A lawyer who protects the accused's rights, challenges the prosecution's evidence where appropriate and presents arguments in favour of the defence.

Hearing in camera

A hearing held behind closed doors rather than in public, for example in certain family-law or juvenile proceedings to protect privacy.

Vonnis

In Belgian law, a judgment or judicial decision delivered by a court of first instance.

Arrest

In Belgian law, a judgment or judicial decision delivered by a higher court or appellate court (hof).

Beschikking / Order

A judicial decision given in specific matters, including summary proceedings (kort geding) or unilateral applications/petitions (e.g. in strikes).

Tussenvonnis / Interlocutory judgment / Interim judgment

A judicial decision that is not yet a final decision on all aspects of the case, such as ordering an expert investigation before ruling on the merits.

Eindvonnis / Final judgment

A definitive decision delivered by a court resolving the case.

Jury

At the Court of Assizes, a body of citizens that decides on the accused's guilt alongside the applicable legal framework.