CHAPTER IV
Investigation and prosecution

Article 26. Remedies. Except for the judgment, a motion for annulment may be brought against all the decisions, and it is argued and resolved orally and immediately in the respective hearing.
Appeals may be brought against those orders that resolve merits issues that are adopted in the course of the hearings, and against the verdicts. They are to be raised in the same hearing in which the decision is handed down, and when granted have the effect of staying the decision challenged pending decision by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice.
The judge writing the decision shall summon the parties and participants to a hearing for oral arguments that shall be held within ten (10) days once the record is received at the Office of the Clerk of Criminal Cassation. Once the appellant has argued the grounds for the appeal, and all other parties and participants have been heard from, the Chamber may decree a recess of up to two (2) hours to issue its decision.
If the appellant is not present or no argument is presented in support of the appeal, it shall be declared to have been abandoned.
Paragraph 1. The processing of the remedies of appeal addressed in this law shall have priority over all other matters under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, except matters relating to writs of protection of fundamental rights (acciones de tutela).
Paragraph 2. The Plenary Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice shall hear special motions for reconsideration provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure in force. Paragraph 3. No motion for cassation may be brought against the judgment on appeal.