Fiji · Courts
Court structure of Fiji
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Final appellate — Supreme Court of Fiji
- Final court; leave required. Sits with the Chief Justice and judges, often including overseas appellate judges.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal
- Hears appeals from the High Court.
- Superior first instance — High Court of Fiji
- Unlimited jurisdiction; divisions in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa.
- First instance — Magistrates' Courts
- Handle the majority of criminal and small civil matters.
- Specialist — Employment Relations Court and iTaukei Lands Appeals Tribunal
- The Tribunal hears disputes over customary land boundaries and title.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeSuvaSupreme Court of FijiFinal appeals from the Court of Appeal with leave, and exclusive original jurisdiction under section 91 of the Constitution to determine constitutional questions referred to it.
- appellateSuvaCourt of Appeal of FijiAppeals from the High Court in civil and criminal matters.
- first-instanceSuvaHigh Court of FijiUnlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, judicial review, and enforcement of the Bill of Rights under section 44 of the Constitution.
- specialisedSuvaiTaukei Lands Appeals TribunalAppeals from decisions of the iTaukei Lands Commission on the ownership, boundaries and membership of the landowning units that hold iTaukei land.
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