Brunei · Courts
Court structure of Brunei
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate (civil) — Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
- Retained for civil appeals only, by agreement with the United Kingdom.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal
- Part of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam.
- First instance — High Court
- General civil and serious criminal jurisdiction.
- Lower — Intermediate Court and Magistrates' Courts
- The bulk of ordinary civil and criminal work.
- Religious — Syariah Appeal Court, Syariah High Court, Syariah Subordinate Courts
- Family, personal status and Syariah penal jurisdiction.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeBandar Seri BegawanCourt of Appeal of Brunei DarussalamAppeals from the High Court in civil and criminal matters; civil appeals may proceed onward to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council by agreement of the parties.
- specialisedBandar Seri BegawanSyariah Court of AppealAppeals from the Syariah High Court in matters of Islamic family law, inheritance and offences under the Syariah Penal Code Order.
- appellateBandar Seri BegawanHigh Court of Brunei DarussalamUnlimited civil and criminal first-instance jurisdiction, and appeals from the Intermediate Court and Magistrates' Courts.
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