There shall be one President of the Supreme Court of Justice for the Supreme Court of Justice, one President of the Court of Appeal for the Court of Appeal, and one President of the Regional Court of Appeal for each Regional Court of Appeal. And there shall be one chief judge of the court of first instance for each of the Civil Court, Southern Bangkok Civil Court, Thon Buri Civil Court, Criminal Court, Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, Thon Buri Criminal Court, and other courts of justice designated as courts of first instance by their constituent acts. In addition, there shall be one Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice for Supreme Court of Justice, one Vice President of the Court of Appeal for the Court of Appeal, and one Vice President of the Regional Court of Appeal for each Regional Court of Appeal, as well as one deputy chief judge of the court of first instance for each of the Civil Court, Southern Bangkok Civil Court, Thon Buri Civil Court, Criminal Court, Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, Thon Buri Criminal Court, and other courts of justice designated as courts of first instance by their constituent acts. And in case of necessity for the benefit of the official service, the Courts of Justice Judicial Service Commission may, with the approval of the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, determine that there be more than one but not exceeding six Vice Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice or more than one but not exceeding three Vice Presidents of the Court of Appeal, Vice Presidents of a Regional Court of Appeal, or deputy chief judges of a court of first instance.[8.a]
When the position of President of the Supreme Court of Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, President of a Regional Court of Appeal, or chief judge of a court of first instance falls vacant or when the holder of the said position becomes unable to carry out his official service, the Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Vice President of the Court of Appeal, Vice President of the Regional Court of Appeal, or deputy chief judge of the court of first instance, as the case may be, shall act in such capacity. If there are several Vice Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice, Vice Presidents of the Court of Appeal, Vice Presidents of the Regional Court of Appeal, or deputy chief judges of the court of first instance, the most senior Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Vice President of the Court of Appeal, Vice President of the Regional Court of Appeal, or deputy chief judge of the court of first instance shall act. If the most senior person is unable to carry out his official service, the person next in line of seniority shall act.[8.b]
In the event that there is no person to act in the capacity of the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, President of a Regional Court of Appeal, or chief judge of a court of first instance in accordance with paragraph 2, or there is one but the one becomes unable to carry out his official service, the most senior judge in such court shall act. If the most senior person is unable to carry out official service, the judge next in line of seniority shall act.
In the event that there is no person to act in accordance with paragraph 3, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice may order a particular judge to act.
No senior judge[8.1] or junior judge[8.2] shall act in the capacity of any position under paragraph 1.
↑ According to the Courts of Justice Judicial Service Act 2000, a senior judge (ผู้พิพากษาอาวุโส) is a judge who has reached the retirement age (60) but remains in office until reaching 70 after passing ability assessments.
↑ According to the Courts of Justice Judicial Service Act 2000, a junior judge (ผู้พิพากษาประจำศาล) is the second lowest judicial position. A judge starts his career as a judge trainee (ผู้ช่วยผู้พิพากษา) and may become a junior judge after one year in the judge trainee office.
