Macau gov’t seeks to appoint two judges from Portugal

Portugal’s High Council for the Judiciary (CSM) has opened applications for two Portuguese judges to serve in Macau’s first-instance courts, with the selection process running until March 31.

The positions are open to judicial magistrates with seven to 15 years of professional experience, offering a two-year term that can be renewed individually. The recruitment follows guidelines from the Independent Commission responsible for appointing lease court judges in Macau.

Selected candidates will receive compensation equivalent to that of local magistrates, with pay levels determined by seniority.

Additional benefits include access to official accommodation or rental allowances, intended to support their roles within Macau’s Portuguese-influenced legal framework. The final selection will be based on evaluations of applicants’ CVs, service records, and supporting documentation.

The current recruitment effort comes in response to recent personnel changes within Macau’s judiciary, including the early departure of Judge Rui Ribeiro and the CSM’s 2024 decision not to extend the mandate of long-serving Judge Carlos Carvalho.

At present, Judge Jerónimo Alberto Gonçalves Santos of the Court of Second Instance is the only Portuguese magistrate on secondment serving in the region.