Justices of the Peace / Juízes de Paz

The decree of May 16, 1832, created a justice of the peace in each of the parishes that made up the judiciaries, and the same judge was to be elected by the people. The justices of the peace were intended to reconcile the parties, and from 1835 to 1840, they performed functions that previously belonged to the judges of the orphans.

The decree of March 29, 1890, determined that the justices of the peace would be appointed by the Government, and the decree of June 5, 1905, fixed the composition of the districts of justices of the peace of Funchal, Ponta do Sol, Santa Cruz, and São Vicente.