Canada · Courts
Court structure of Canada
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Supreme — Supreme Court of Canada
- Nine judges, three of whom must be from Québec.
- Appellate — Provincial Courts of Appeal; Federal Court of Appeal
- Appeals from superior and federal courts.
- First instance — Provincial superior courts; Federal Court
- Federally appointed judges; provincially administered.
- Lower — Provincial and territorial courts
- Most criminal and small civil matters.
- Specialised — Tax Court of Canada; administrative tribunals
- Immigration, labour and human-rights tribunals.
Every court in the hierarchy
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