Government Reaffirms Confidence in the Judicial Institutions and the New President of the Court of Appeal
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
.............................................................................................................................
May 7th, 2025
Press Release
Government Reaffirms Confidence in Judicial Institutions and the New President of the Court of Appeal
The 9th Constitutional Government is closely following the recent public debates surrounding the appointment of the new President of the Court of Appeal, Judge Afonso Carmona, and expresses its full confidence in democratic institutions and in the regular functioning of the judicial system.
Afonso Carmona, a native of Atabae, Bobonaro, has been a magistrate for more than 25 years and, according to the seniority list of judicial magistrates published in the Official Gazette, is the President of the Court of Appeal with the longest service in the judiciary at the time of his appointment.
With a career that began as a public prosecutor during the period of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), he was subsequently appointed third class judge in 2009 at the Baucau District Court. He also worked at the Dili District Court, where, between 2019 to 2023, he was involved in implementing initiatives to improve the quality of judicial services.
The appointment of Afonso Carmona as President of the Court of Appeal was formalized by Presidential Decree no. 35/2025, in full respect of the constitutional provisions, which attribute this power to the President of the Republic. It is a sovereign act, based on the vast experience he has accumulated, his dedication to public service and the competence he has demonstrated over decades in the justice sector.
As established by Law No. 4/2025, of April 28th, on the second amendment to Law No. 25/2021, of December 2nd, the Judicial Organization Law, as long as the current Court of Appeal exercises the powers that the Constitution and the law attribute to the Supreme Court of Justice and the High Administrative, Tax and Audit Court, its president is appointed by the President of the Republic, from among judges who, at the time of appointment, have exercised at least 20 years of professional activity in the judicial magistracy.
In his inauguration speech, the new President of the Court of Appeal reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of the rule of law, stressing that he takes up the post “not as a privilege, but with a commitment to serve the people and the state”. He also indicated as priorities for his mandate the strengthening of the capacity of magistrates, the technological modernization of justice, the promotion of transparency and the widening of access to justice for the most vulnerable citizens. He also pledged to work for the installation of the Supreme Court of Justice, highlighting the constraints that its absence continues to impose on the judicial system.
On the same occasion, the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, pointed out that “our Constitution wisely establishes that the President of the Republic appoints, after consultation with the Government, the President of the highest judicial body in Timor-Leste which, at the moment and until the Supreme Court of Justice is installed, is exercised by the Court of Appeal”. He added that “this practice has been followed consistently since our independence, reflecting the careful balance of powers in our democratic system and underlining the importance of this position in our national life”.
The government stresses that this appointment comes at a time when a wide-ranging process of reform of the judicial sector is underway, led by the 9th Constitutional Government, with the aim of strengthening independence, effectiveness and accessibility of justice throughout the national territory. This reform aims, among other things, to review the legal and institutional framework, strengthen the skills of professionals in the sector and modernize the judicial services, in close coordination with the competent sovereign bodies.
The government thus appeals for serenity and mutual respect in the public debate, reaffirming its commitment to consolidating the independence of the judiciary and to valuing all those who, like Judge Afonso Carmona, have dedicated their lives to justice in Timor-Leste. END
